The England women’s national football team—coached by the indomitable Sarina Wiegman—had a history-making win! They won the UEFA Women’s Euro 2022 final at Wembley Stadium on Sunday. Along the way, the Lionesses pulled off an exciting win against Spain in the dramatic penalty shootout. After additional time, the game finished in a 1-1 tie. This victory marks England’s first senior squad to win a major trophy on foreign soil and Wiegman’s fifth consecutive final win, reinforcing her reputation as one of the sport’s leading managers.
After an emotional rollercoaster of a match that showcased all their powers of persistence and skill, the game headed to penalties. England went on to win 3-1 on penalties. Chloe Kelly scored the winning penalty, and keeper Hannah Hampton, who was born in the U.S. on a military base, made the key saves that lifted her team to victory.
A Historic Achievement
Sarina Wiegman’s leadership has been instrumental in England’s success throughout the tournament. With this latest triumph, this Lionesses perfectionist has now steered her team to three successive Euros finals successes. This historic accomplishment cements her place in women’s football legacy. Reflecting on this victory, Wiegman shared that it felt like a bigger victory than when they won in 2022. She reiterated the value of claiming the title on the enemy’s soil.
“I can’t believe it. The word ‘team’ really described who we are – a team,” – Sarina Wiegman
The Lionesses had adversity for the entirety of the tournament, as they lost their first match. They bounced back to win five straight games, including this victorious shootout finale. This resilience reflects the team’s strong mentality, which has become a hallmark of their performance under Wiegman’s guidance.
Key Performers Shine
Chloe Kelly became a household name after her winner in the 2022 final versus Germany. Once again, she showed what she was made of when the chips were down. As she put it, she stepped up for the final shootout kick with ultimate confidence, showing supreme faith in herself.
“I was cool, I was composed. I knew I was going to hit the back of the net. I don’t miss a penalty twice!” – Chloe Kelly
Kelly’s composure and determination were echoed by her teammate Hannah Hampton, whose remarkable performance included saving two penalties during the shootout. With TJ reflecting on the team’s run through the tournament, he talked about how the team’s resilience helped them come back from break after break.
“We’ve shown throughout the tournament we can come back when we go a goal back. We’ve got that grit, that English blood in us. We never say die, we keep going and we did that today.” – Hannah Hampton
Emma Hayes commended both players for their exceptional performances throughout the tournament. She is the one that initially brought Hampton to Chelsea before leaving last summer. She branded their double act the “Hannah Hampton and Chloë Kelly show.” She praised their ability to rise to the occasion in key moments throughout the final.
“As it was going on it was nailed on for the Hannah Hampton and Chloe Kelly show. Both of them, in the big moments, under the most pressure, mentality monsters.” – Emma Hayes
Overcoming Challenges
Her road to victory wouldn’t come without its bumps. Lucy Bronze absolutely smashed her knee ligaments and played through the injury for the whole of the tournament – what a warrior! The Lionesses fought their way through 120-minute contests in three-straight matches, a reflection of their grit and team chemistry.
As Hayes alluded to, all 23 players would have had their own path filled with amazing stories based on their own journey of work and perseverance. She voiced pride in Kelly for being able to perform in such pressure-cooker situations.
“Every player has their own story and every story is incredible on its own. But for her [Kelly], most of the stories are in the open and I’m so happy for her too.” – Emma Hayes
“From the first game it was chaos. Losing your first game and becoming European Champions is incredible. Football is chaos.”
Leave a Reply