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Lucy Bronze has just said she played the entire tournament with a fractured tibia but said she didn’t tell anyone – meaning on the outside. She said that’s why her teammates have celebrated her even more. Bronze said that wasn’t the reason she came off tonight, it was a knee issue.
Defender Lucy Bronze told the BBC:
I mean we never lost belief in ourselves, there was a lot of noise on the outside. To go through 120 minutes back-to-back and to win on penalties in two of those games are unbelievable. I don’t think we were thinking too much about the World Cup. Winning on penalties is an amazing feeling but to lose is horrible, missing penalties and stepping up – they are great players.
Of course this win means everything to all the England players but what a huge cherry on top of a great cake for the Arsenal stars in this team. They become part of a choice few who have won the Champions League and a Euros in the same year. I have to say Leah Williamson was at the heart of both.
England captain Leah Williamson told the BBC:
Total disbelief but at the same time I knew it was going to happen. Playing for this England team is unbelievable. You cannot put us down. It’s just such an amazing feeling to be a part of. As soon as it started, how we defended as a back four especially, nothing came through us. To do this again, this is the toughest. How women’s football has changed and for us to do it again. The stakes, everything was high. We have ridden our luck, we aren’t lucky.
Here’s a fun fact, a quite unbelievable fact, from Opta. England were only ahead for just four minutes and 52 seconds in the entire knockout stages of the tournament. Wow.
Michelle Agyemang, the player to score the equaliser in the quarter-final and semi-final, told the BBC:
I am so happy. I think I cried. I am so grateful, I thank god for where he has brought us as a team. I think it’s surreal, I have come this far so quickly. It’s by the grace of god and my teammates and staff.
England defender Jess Carter told the BBC:
I just couldn’t be prouder. I feel speechless. I feel relief excitement. I want to say a massive thank you to our fans, my friends and family. For anyone who doubted us, doubted me, this [is what we do].
I was next [after Kelly] I’m unsure if my nerves could’ve taken it… I was pretty disappointed with how I have played throughout the tournament but now I could not give a damn.
Peter Gartner has emailed:
Who should be Sports Personality of the Year? Chloe Kelly or Hannah Hampton ?
The one mistake Spain made – not to have Pina take one of the early penalties. She can really blast the ball.
I wonder if Spain kept Pina in case it went to sudden death? But yes SPOTY could go to a woman for a fourth year in a row. And this summer of women’s sport isn’t over yet, the Rugby World Cup is coming up.
England manager Sarina Wiegman tod the BBC:
I cannot believe it. The word team describes who we are. I am so proud of them and the staff. Yeah, I cannot believe it. I have a medal around my neck and we have the trophy. It has been the most chaotic tournament, from the first day it’s been chaos. From losing your opening game and winning the trophy, incredible.
Enric Massip-Bosch has emailed:
Aitana Bonmatí sincerely “asking for forgiveness” on Spanish TV for her faulty penalty take, just before picking the trophy for Best Player of the Tournament. How humble, a great model-player.
That shows what a leader and person she is. She has been unbelievable this tournament and she is the reason they were in the final.
The entire squad, manager and backroom staff all come together arm-in-arm to sway left and right as they sing Queen’s ‘We are the Champions’. Three years ago it felt like a once in a lifetime opportunity to see England win a major tournament. This team has ensured it becomes commonplace.
The elation. The joy. The history made. Leah Williamson picks up the Euros trophy, one she has captained them to back-to-back, and walks over, carrying it in one hand. She and Keira Walsh lift it aloft and gold confetti rains down on them. A golden generation.
Trophy time! Photograph: Matthew Childs/Reuters
England’s Lucy Bronze lifts the trophy. Photograph: Fabrice Coffrini/AFP/Getty Images
Now it’s England who get their medals. Michelle Agyemang is pushed forward by Khiara Keating as she leads the players up to the podium just behind Sarina Wiegman.
Here come Spain and they are given a guard of honour by England. They all look so despondent and it must be so painful, especially as they had opportunities to win this game.
Now the referee Stephanie Frappart and her refereeing team get their medals. Spain looked devastated as they wait to collect their runners-up medals.
Spain’s Aitana Bonmati wins player of the tournament, she had viral meningitis just before this competition and her goal sent her nation to the final.
Two clutch goals in the quarter-final and semi-final. Thoroughly deserved. She was huge defensively today too.
If the adrenaline of all of that action has made you temporarily forget what has just happened, here’s a recap:
Peter Tomlin has emailed:
I just want to say that I thought Jess Carter was absolutely outstanding today. She was under enormous pressure but I don’t recall her putting a foot wrong all game. She broke up so many attacks & kept things simple when in possession.
She deserves massive credit for her conduct.
Absolutely Peter, I think her celebratory roar for a good bit of defence towards the end of extra time showed how proud she was of herself.
The England players are wearing commemorative scarves on and emotionally are embracing each other. The official people are getting lined up now as the medals get handed out.
England goalkeeper Hannah Hampton told the BBC:
This team is unbelievable. Incredible. We can show we can come back from 1-0. I lost track of what was going on in that shootout, as soon as I saw her run off I knew we had won.
A note for Spain, who fall just short after an incredible tournament. Mariona Caldentey’s goal in this final was beautiful and they just kept pushing. Even in the penalties, Cata Coll made saves but England just pipped them. There will definitely be more to come from this Spanish side.
Sarina Wiegman has been an international manager for three European Championships. She has won every single one.
England manager Sarina Wiegman (centre) and players celebrate. Photograph: Nick Potts/PA
Chloe Kelly, the England hero again, told the BBC:
I am so proud of this team. so grateful to wear this badge. I am so proud to be English. I was cool and composed, I knew I was going to hit the back of the net. I don’t miss penalties twice.
I struggle to find the words right now. Niamh Charles coming on in that second half of extra time and scoring a cracking penalty. The whole team able to stay present after saves from both goalkeepers. Hannah Hampton saving two penalties, including one by Aitana Bonmati. Incredible.
Never has an England senior team won back-to-back major tournaments. This is the first time England have ever won a senior tournament on foreign soil. They have done so by beating the favourites Spain. What have we all just witnessed.
Oh my word. What have we just watched. Chloe Kelly clutch. Hannah Hampton unbelievable.
Wow.
Joy all around the English camp. Photograph: Stefan Wermuth/Reuters
Oh my word. These shootouts. If England score here they win the tournament. It’s Kelly. Huge pressure on her shoulders and she scores.
Chloe Kelly of England scores the team’s winning penalty. Photograph: Álex Caparrós/UEFA/Getty Images
Kelly celebrates. It was never in doubt. Photograph: Florencia Tan Jun/UEFA/Getty Images
So Spain have a chance to level it again here. It’s Paralluelo and she misses.
Now the pressure really is on Spain but England cannot afford to slip up here. For England it’s Williamson. The captain misses.
Now the pressure is on Spain and who else but Bonmati? She steps up but Hampton saves!!
Spain’s Aitana Bonmati has her penalty saved by England’s Hannah Hampton. Photograph: Stefan Wermuth/Reuters
Well we are now back to level pegging. Pressure still on. For England it’s Charles. She steps up and she scores.
Spain next and it’s Caldentey who steps up, she scored Spain’s goal in open play. Hampton saves.
Okay pressure is on for England. It’s Greenwood, who had hers saved against Sweden, and she scores.
It was a great save from Coll on that. Now Guijarro to follow it up with Spain’s first. The midfielder slots it.
It’s saved on the second take.
Cata Coll of Spain saves from Beth Mead. Photograph: Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images
Oh wait, it’s being taken again as it’s a double kick.
It’s England to take first and it is Mead who steps up. She slots it even though she slipped.
England’s Beth Mead scores a penalty but it was later retaken. Photograph: Stefan Wermuth/Reuters
The coin toss has happened and it looks like Leah Williamson has won it. The shootout will happen in front of England fans.
Right then, it seems very English to have a penalty shootout here doesn’t it? Spain haven’t faced a shootout in this tournament and England have.
This is just the second time in women’s Euros history that the final will be decided on penalties.
So we go to penalties. How do the players deal with this? I can hardly cope and I’m sat at home on my sofa.
105 + 1 min: There are two minutes added.
120 min: Spain come again as they search for a winner, they have thrown absolutely everything they can at this England team. Bonmati gets it on the edge but Kelly sees it out.
119 min: I will say Williamson plays excellently against Spanish team. She was great in the Champions League final and again she is good here. Agyemang looks as though she has won a free kick but it’s ruled the other way, if something comes of this Spain attack England will be furious. But no, Walsh clears.
118 min: Spain with some slick football gets them into the area again, a looping ball almost finds Lopez but it bounces unkindly for her and Hampton picks it up.
117 min: Kelly puts it in but there’s a retake with the referee not happy with Clinton. The Arsenal star takes again but Coll collects cleanly.
116 min: Stanway comes to the sidelines and looks okay but I think Wiegman has decided to make a change. Clinton is one and after the change England have a corner.
114 min: After Lopez takes a shot which is wide, Stanway is down and in need of some treatment.
113 min: Spain look like the much fitter side now, they just keep piling on the pressure and the attacks. It feels like England are hanging on.
112 min: Pina again the taker and the delivery is good, targeting Paredes. The captain heads it into box and Lopez furthers it one but Paralluelo can’t swipe it right and so Hampton collects. Anyone else’s hearts beating a bit faster as we edge closer to penalties?
Spain’s forward Salma Paralluelo misfires. Photograph: Miguel Medina/AFP/Getty Images
110 min: Hemp wins a great ball from Ouahabi but the Manchester City star gets back really well to put her off of a shot. Pina then wins a free kick from Mead and Spain come into the box twice, the second seeing Stanway see it out for a corner.
109 min: Batlle wins a foul and a free kick, a bit of a soft one. Pina takes the set piece and it’s scrambled in the box but the flag is up regardless.
107 min: Spain start the half so well with Paralluelo and Pina having chances but the last goes across goal and out for a goal kick.
106 min: It’s Carmona who made way for Ouahabi, in case you were wondering.
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