A month ago, as Europe`s 16 top women`s national teams gathered in Switzerland, many anticipated Spain would claim the Women`s Euro title in Basel. Two years after their emphatic Women`s World Cup victory, Spain remained one of the world`s leading teams, boasting talented forwards and an exciting playing style. Their progression to the Euro final, a historic first for La Roja, was no surprise, nor was Mariona Caldentey`s opening goal in the 25th minute. However, Spain`s anticipated coronation never materialized.
Instead, in a dramatic Women`s Euro final, England emerged as champions. Thanks to Alessia Russo`s 57th-minute equalizer and two crucial saves from Hannah Hampton in the penalty shootout, England secured their second consecutive title. The Lionesses, despite being reigning champions, perfectly embraced the role of tenacious underdogs, ceding possession to Spain and seizing their opportunities when they arose. Conceding in the first half did not faze England, who had fallen behind in four of their six Euro matches and only held a lead for a mere 4 minutes and 52 seconds during the knockout stage. In the 30 minutes of extra time, the champions registered no shots, patiently waiting for a penalty shootout that ultimately favored them, even after missing two of their own spot-kicks. This was a hard-fought and less-than-glamorous victory, somewhat uncharacteristic for a team known for its dynamic attacking prowess, featuring players like Russo and Michelle Agyemang, who was the tournament`s breakout star and awarded Best Young Player.
Head coach Sarina Wiegman, however, was vindicated for choosing a pragmatic approach to counter Spain`s preferred free-flowing style. While Wiegman`s tactical decision might have seemed unpredictable before the tournament, it`s a strategy many elite managers have employed when a trophy is on the line, and in some ways, it`s a straightforward one. Such is the reality of tournaments, and it`s equally valid to argue that the onus was on Spain to develop a strategy against such a predictable tactic.
Although the World Cup winners cruised to the semifinals, their defeat to England, combined with their extra-time win over Germany on Wednesday, revealed their current “one-dimensional” nature. Spain can perform at their peak when conditions favor them, which is true for most teams, but at their best, it`s hard not to consider them a cut above the rest. Once their midfield dictates play, the results are exquisite—they can outpass anyone, and their impressive attacking talent means scoring goals is rarely an issue. This was certainly the case in the first half on Sunday, when they out-possessed, out-passed, out-shot, and outscored England, with the game largely proceeding as planned. However, Wiegman and her team correctly identified that disrupting Spain`s passing patterns would be crucial for their victory. Although to a lesser extent than an understaffed and ultra-defensive Germany, the Lionesses managed to keep La Roja in their own half more often than desired, forcing them into more long balls instead of their customary short, clinical passes.
Finally finding the defensive resilience they had lacked throughout the tournament, England limited Spain to just five shots on target from 22 total attempts, seeking opportunities to exploit their opponent`s untested defense. This strategy was particularly evident in extra time, where the Lionesses took no shots themselves but restricted La Roja to zero shots on target and less than one expected goal from five attempts.
Defenders Leah Williamson and Jess Carter were standout performers in Basel, each embodying the resolve that primarily defined England`s title-winning campaign in Switzerland. The pair rewarded Wiegman for her characteristic in-game tactical acumen, especially Carter, who returned to the lineup after being replaced by Esme Morgan in the semi-final win against Italy. Carter`s performance is particularly commendable after what was likely a challenging week – the two-time European champion had been subjected to racist abuse on social media but received public support from teammates and opponents alike at the competition, delivering a career-best performance on Sunday.
This was one of the final surprises in a tournament replete with them, including Italy`s first semi-final appearance since 1997 and the Netherlands` group stage exit – a unique yet palpable sense of imperfection that might be one of the competition`s most enduring legacies. As new attendance and viewership records marked a fresh chapter in women`s soccer`s undeniable upward trajectory, it fostered the right kind of on-field unpredictability. At the Women`s Euro, power dynamics shifted, whether it was rising teams like Italy surpassing historic powerhouses such as Norway, or England avenging their World Cup final loss to Spain two years prior. There was also a pervasive sense of imperfection—several teams had their moments, but none appeared to be a complete package, especially true for the two finalists whose weaknesses were almost as apparent as their strengths.
This perfectly encapsulates an unpredictable tournament and offers a unique excitement as the countdown to the 2027 World Cup officially begins. Had Spain dominated the entire event, they might be favorites in Brazil two years from now, but head coach Montse Tomé and her team certainly have room for improvement, while England joins a long list of championship-winning teams with discernible flaws. Many other exciting uncertainties lie ahead in the next two years—the U.S. women`s national team is ushering in a new generation of talent with 2027 in mind, while host nation Brazil is doing the same and will undoubtedly aim for a landmark performance in South America`s first Women`s World Cup. The pressure is on each of them to live up to expectations, as well as on ambitious fringe teams aiming to make their trip to Brazil count. Two years after the most competitive World Cup in women`s football history, it`s clear that the on-field product is progressing positively—even if it`s strangely imperfect.
