England 'rode luck but not lucky' - Williamson

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The Lionesses successfully defended the European title they claimed on home ground in 2022 by triumphing over reigning champions Spain, winning 3-1 on penalties after the match ended in a 1-1 draw following extra time.

They have become the first country to successfully defend the women’s Euros since Germany accomplished the feat six times consecutively from 1995 to 2013.

This victory followed their reliance on penalties to defeat Sweden in the quarter-finals and a late extra-time win against Italy in the semi-finals.

"You know, it hasn’t quite hit me yet. I’m still in that phase of thinking, ‘this is unbelievable,’ ‘did this really happen?’" manager Sarina Wiegman shared with BBC Radio 5 Live. "I’m incredibly happy, but it feels a bit surreal. Just amazing."

Williamson mentioned that England had enjoyed a bit of good fortune on their path to success at Euro 2025, but emphasized that they were worthy champions, not just lucky ones.

"We’ve had our lucky moments, but I wouldn’t say we were merely lucky," she stated during the celebratory atmosphere on the field at St Jakob-Park.

"Complete disbelief, yet deep down, I felt it was coming. There’s always a moment when I think, ‘Alright girls, it’s time to shine.’ The way we defended together, nothing got past us. It felt like it would be our day."

England led for a mere four minutes and 52 seconds throughout the knockout rounds of the tournament, all of which came following Chloe Kelly's late goal against Italy.

Each of England’s knockout matches extended to 120 minutes, a first in a major women's tournament.

"England will fight until the final whistle," remarked BBC One analyst Nedum Onuoha. "This team, if you don’t finish them off, their talent will reveal itself until the end."

On the other hand, Spain's players and coach felt that luck wasn't in their favor during a final where they recorded 22 shots and held nearly 65% of possession.

"We did everything we could in various ways, and then penalties didn’t go our way," Spain captain Irene Paredes expressed to TVE. "I believed we deserved it more, but in the end, it’s not about deserving it.

"It’s about having that streak of luck, and England had it throughout the tournament. We believed we could overcome that, but we fell short.

"I think we controlled the game better than they did, we crafted more clear opportunities, and had greater possession. But that’s all there is to say."

'No one thought we’d be victorious after the first match - and rightfully so!’

Yet statistics can be deceiving. Although there was an element of fortune in Sweden and Spain’s struggles from the penalty spot, as well as in Laura Giuliani’s mishap at Michelle Agyemang’s feet after 95 minutes in the semi-final, England always had a strategy.

"I remain quite composed during the matches," Wiegman remarked. "Every single game in this tournament has posed challenges for us. We addressed those challenges and the way the team bounced back from setbacks, including today, is what truly matters."

England aimed to secure late victories with the offensive strength provided by substitutes. Kelly's assist in the match against Spain contributed to England achieving 10 goal contributions from players coming off the bench during Euro 2025 - comprising five goals and five assists - from a total of 16 goals they scored.

"They truly deserve this in the end. They have endured challenges, demonstrated resilience, and showcased that mentality," remarked Euro 2022 champion Ellen White during an interview with BBC One. "It has been incredibly thrilling."

If victory cannot be attained through regular gameplay, they have triumphed in all four penalty shootouts under coach Wiegman, including two while in Switzerland.

"I had no doubt that we would win the shootout," stated defender Jess Carter in her BBC interview. "I was next in line to take a kick, and I’m not sure my nerves could have handled it, but I completely believed in this team's ability to win."

The excitement on the field at St Jakob-Park was heightened by England’s unconventional path to reclaiming their Euros title, beginning with a disappointing 2-1 defeat against France in their first group match.

Wiegman held firm, resisting the temptation to start super-subs Kelly and Agyemang in the final, instead opting to rely on them to deliver when it truly mattered.

"It was incredibly difficult to bounce back from that loss in the first game to achieve this," Agyemang shared with the BBC. "Everything indeed happens for a reason."

"We are relentless - we have players who absolutely thrive in this environment," Williamson added. "To do it again is just unbelievable.

"And after the first game, no one expected us to come this far - and rightfully so! But nothing has changed."

Carter completes comeback with exceptional performance

Carter, for her part, experienced an extraordinary journey throughout Euro 2025.

In the opening match against France, she faced significant challenges as her position at left-back was exploited by Delphine Cascarino and later transitioned to central defense, where she was also vulnerable to pace and ball control during Sweden’s two early goals.

Following the quarter-final match, she faced racist abuse and was left out of the starting lineup for the Italy game.

However, she made a notable return to the starting team for the final, delivering a fantastic performance.

"I couldn't be prouder," Carter expressed. "I’m speechless, overwhelmed, and thrilled.

"I want to extend a huge thank you to our supporters, my family who has been amazing, and to everyone who doubted us and me personally - we have demonstrated what we can accomplish.

"This journey has been wild for me. I felt disappointed with my tournament performance - but now I couldn't care less. Understanding how to win games is what we embody as England."

'We did it for our angels in the sky'

For Ella Toone and Beth Mead, their medals represented much more than mere sporting achievement - they signified tributes to loved ones lost since their victory at Wembley in 2022.

Mead's mother passed away in 2023, while Toone's father died the previous year.

Toone shared a heartfelt Instagram story featuring Mead, with the caption: "We did it for our angels in the sky. Forever with us and forever proud."

She also mentioned that her mother had an unoccupied seat beside her in the stands at St Jakob-Park.

"If that’s not a sign, I'm not sure what is," Toone expressed. "I know you were there, Dad."

Following the moments of reflection came the celebration. Mead walked through the media mixed zone after the match, holding a can of beer and carrying a boombox that was playing "Don’t Stop Believin’" by Journey.

"There were moments when people believed we were finished, but we never felt that way," Toone stated during a conversation with BBC Sport while enjoying a slice of celebratory pizza.

"We had confidence in our team that we were going to win. That’s the quiet faith we have in ourselves.

"We're going to enjoy the night. I really love a party."

The coach plans to partake as well.

"I’ll do some dancing," Wiegman remarked. "I’ll have a drink, but I doubt I’ll drink as much as the players."

If anyone has earned a chance to dance, it’s Wiegman, whose impact on England's success is significant.

"The clearest change is Sarina," stated former England striker Toni Duggan on BBC Radio 5 Live. "She has this team working for one another - regardless of whether they play one minute or ninety minutes, it doesn’t matter. This team truly plays for each other, and I enjoy following them.

"It hasn’t always been pretty, but they’ve discovered a way. We didn’t have that in the past, but they possess it now, along with plenty of talent."