Fresh off her 2025 Euro win, England star goalkeeper Hannah Hampton revealed her penalty shootout secret that helped lift the Lionesses over Spain in last month's tournament final.
After Hampton spotted Spain goalkeeper Cata Coll's tactical notes written on her water bottle, she quietly picked it up and tossed it into the crowd.
"The Spanish keeper had it on her bottle," Hampton told England radio station talkSPORT on Friday. "So I thought when she was going in goal, I'll just pick it up and throw it into the English fans so she can't have it."
Hampton kept her own Euro penalty shootout notes wrapped around her forearm, explaining that "I never put it on a bottle because anyone can [throw it away]."
The 24-year-old's method proved useful in saving shots from Spanish stars Aitana Bonmatí and Mariona Caldentey, ultimately setting up teammate Chloe Kelly to bury the title-winning penalty.
"I was trying so hard not to burst out laughing [because] I was like 'Oh, I don't know where [Coll's water bottled] has gone,'" Hampton recalled. "But you have got to do something, haven't you?"
As for Coll, the Spanish keeper seemed to refute Hampton's story, posting two laughing emojis in response to the radio clip, as well as saying "Okay, okay, calm down. If only it were true..."
UEFA Women's Euro 2025 made a splash across the pond, drawing an average of 458,000 US viewers per match across FOX platforms to mark a 97% viewership increase over the 2022 edition — making this year's tournament the most-watched English-language Women's Euro on record.
Building off the 2025 competition's previously reported record-breaking numbers, Sunday's grand finale between defending champs England and 2023 World Cup winners Spain averaged 1.35 million US viewers — a 53% increase in viewership over the last Women's Euro championship match.
Even more, the broadcast ultimately peaked at 1.92 million fans tuning in, making it the most-watched English-language Women's Euro Final on record.
The historic viewership is a major win for broadcaster FOX, who secured the women's tournament's first-ever US media deal back in May.
Initially committing to live coverage of 20 of the tournament's matches, record returns motivated the broadcast giant to quickly pivot and air all 31 matches live as part of its FOX Sports Summer of Soccer campaign.
"More and more people are tuning in to watch soccer in the US," FOX Sports commentator and UWSNT vet Carli Lloyd told The Athletic. "There's just been an incredible amount of soccer on display, which has been fantastic for the sport."
World No. 5 England are bringing football home once again, lifting their second straight UEFA Women's Euro trophy after defeating reigning World Cup champs No. 2 Spain in the 2025 championship match on Sunday.
Leading for a total of four minutes throughout the entirety of the knockouts, Sunday's win marked England's third consecutive comeback victory this tournament, as the Lionesses bested La Roja in a penalty shootout to become the first back-to-back European champions since 2013.
Armed with more confident knockout-stage results, Spain came out swinging in the first half, going up 1-0 behind Mariona Caldentey's 25th-minute strike.
However, England would not be denied, equalizing off a header from Alessia Russo in the 57th minute to eventually force extra time at a 1-1 deadlock.
The stalemate held through the additional 30 minutes, invoking yet another penalty shootout in true 2025 Euro fashion.
Spain struck first, but three uncharacteristic missed shots from Caldentey, reigning Ballon d'Or winner Aitana Bonmatí, and 2023 World Cup breakout star Salma Paralluelo handed England control of the shootout.
Forward Chloe Kelly — the 2022 title-winning scorer — came through for the Lionesses again, sinking the final shot from the spot to secure England's second major tournament title.
Sunday's victory also added to Sarina Wiegman's personal perfect Euro record, as the England manager emerged from her third European Championship with a third straight title — two with the Lionesses and one with the Netherlands in 2017.
"She's amazing," Kelly said of Wiegman. "She is an incredible woman. What she's done for this country, we should all be so grateful."
Despite Spain's edge, England showcased the mentality it takes to cap an unlikely run with a fairytale ending — one that could fuel them down the path to another trophy as attention shifts toward the 2027 World Cup.
With one last match remaining, the 2025 UEFA Women's Euro has already become the most-attended edition in tournament history, bursting through the 600,000-fan attendance mark during the first match of this week's semifinal round.
That Tuesday mark officially surpassed the previous tournament record attendance of 574,875 fans, set during the 2022 edition in England.
Exceeding event organizers' predictions, Switzerland's iteration is currently on track to become the first Women's Euro to see average crowds of over 20,000 fans per match — a mark made even more impressive by the fact that half of the eight 2025 venues have capacities well under 17,000 seats.
Along with the competition's record-smashing attendance, global TV viewership of the 2025 Euro has also boomed, with live coverage reaching new highs both in Europe and abroad.
A peak of 10.2 million UK viewers tuned in to see the defending champion Lionesses defeat Italy in their semifinal on Tuesday, delivering broadcaster ITV their largest audience of 2025 so far.
US broadcaster Fox Sports is also seeing historic numbers from the company's history-making media deal, with US viewership continuing to climb.
With an average of 925,000 US viewers tuning in to see Germany advance past France in last week's quarterfinal, Fox is already gearing up for an even better turnout for Sunday's grand finale.
How to watch the 2025 Euro final
World No. 2 Spain will take on No. 5 England in the 2025 Euro final at 12 PM ET on Sunday, airing live on Fox.
Sunday's UEFA Women's Euro Final will look familiar, as world No. 2 Spain and No. 5 England turn the 2025 European Championship into a redux of the 2023 World Cup title match.
"I feel like the hard work has paid off," Spain manager Montse Tomé said after the reigning World Cup champions' hard-earned semifinal win over No. 3 Germany on Wednesday.
"I can't believe what happened — the togetherness of this group is so special," said England star Chloe Kelly following the 2022 Euro champs' own semifinal thriller against No. 13 Italy on Tuesday.
While the pair of European powerhouse share a fairly even head-to-head history, with England claiming a slight edge behind an 8-5-6 (W/L/D) all-time record against La Roja, Spain owns the most recent 2023 high-profile win.
Since that 1-0 World Cup showdown, England and Spain have split their two matchups, taking one apiece in the 2025 UEFA Nations League competition with the Lionesses snagging a 1-0 February win before La Roja fired back with a 2-1 victory last month.
"[The Euro is] something we have never won and is something we are missing," said Spain and Arsenal midfielder Mariona Caldentey. "We respect England, but we will go for it."
How to watch Span vs. England at the Euro Final
Spain will look to unseat 2022 Euro champs England when the pair meet in a 2023 World Cup final rematch on Sunday.
The 2025 Euro grand finale will kicks off at 12 PM ET, airing live on Fox.
World No. 2 Spain clinched their first-ever UEFA Women's Euro final berth on Wednesday, when the 2023 World Cup champions handed eight-time title-winners No. 3 Germany a narrow 1-0 extra-time defeat in their 2025 semifinal.
"I'm proud because we deserve it," winning goal-scorer Aitana Bonmatí told reporters afterwards. "We had a tremendous championship. It was the first time we beat Germany, and on top of that, we reached the final."
Entering the match with a 5-0-3 (W/L/D) all-time record against La Roja, Germany arrived shorthanded, as both injuries and suspensions forced them to start every available defender.
The squad's famed football mentality prevailed for more than 110 minutes in a 0-0 deadlock, with Spain struggling to break down a committed German defense led by reigning NWSL Goalkeeper of the Year Ann-Katrin Berger.
As the clock ticked down in extra time, however, an audacious 113th-minute strike from Bonmatí caught the Gotham FC keeper off-guard, earning La Roja both a first historic win over the Germans as well as a shot at their second major tournament trophy in three years.
The once-improbable 2023 World Cup final rematch is now a reality, as familiar foes Spain and No. 5 England gear up for another championship battle.
"I know what they can do," said Spain and Arsenal midfielder Mariona Caldentey of the defending Euro champs. "It will be a hard game."
How to watch the 2025 Euro final
No. 2 Spain will next look to unseat 2022 champion No. 5 England when the UEFA Women's Euro 2025 final kicks off at 12 PM ET on Sunday.
The 2025 Euro grand finale will air live on Fox.
The defending Euro champs have done it again, as No. 5 England advanced to the UEFA Women's Euro 2025 Final with a 2-1 extra-time semifinals victory over No. 13 Italy — pulling off yet another knockout-stage comeback win.
"We're going to make a movie someday," manager Sarina Wiegman told BBC Radio 5 after the Lionesses' unlikely turnaround. "Well, this is a movie. My goodness, it's unbelievable."
The Italian underdogs had the upset dialed in for most of the match, as veteran midfielder Barbara Bonansea put the Azzurre ahead 1-0 in the 33rd minute while the team locked into a sturdy defense that carried them through the end of regulation time.
However, 19-year-old England Euro super-sub Michelle Agyemang played hero in final minutes of stoppage time, scoring her second late equalizer in as many games to force the match into extra time.
As extra time drew to a close, England were awarded a controversially soft penalty, and though Italian goalkeeper Laura Giuliani originally denied the shot, second-half sub Chloe Kelly buried the rebound to give the Lionesses their 2-1 game-winning scoreline.
"Four years ago, I was just a kid throwing balls to some of these girls, now I'm playing with them," said senior team newcomer and breakout star Agyemang, who served as a ball girl during the 2022 Euro Final at London's Wembley Stadium.
How to watch the second match of the 2025 Euro semifinals
Eight-time European title-winners No. 3 Germany will close out the 2025 semifinals against 2023 World Cup champions No. 2 Spain at 3 PM ET on Wednesday.
The clash will air live on FOX.
England defender Jess Carter is stepping back from social media this week, with the Gotham FC star stating she'd received "a lot of racial abuse" online since the start of the Lionesses' title defense at the 2025 Euro.
"Whilst I feel every fan is entitled to their opinion on performance and result, I don't agree, or think, it's ok to target someone's appearance or race," she wrote in Monday's post. "Hopefully, speaking out will make the people writing this abuse think twice so that others won't have to deal with it."
"It's really sad that we have to be occupied by this," said England head coach Sarina Wiegman. "It is ridiculous and disgusting what is happening and that goes beyond football. We had to pay attention to that and support Jess."
In response, UEFA, the NWSL, and the NWSL Players Association all issued statements condemning the abuse and expressing unequivocal support of Carter.
Carter's club also jumped to stand with their defender, with Gotham FC calling her "a role model" and "a leader," before bluntly stating, "There is no place for racism in our sport."
Blatantly labeling the abuse a "hate crime," English FA CEO Mark Bullingham said that the governing body has contacted UK police in order to hold the perpetrators accountable.
England players to stand prior to 2025 Euro semifinal
Carter isn't the only player taking action, as the entire England squad has chosen not to take a knee before their Tuesday semifinal match against Italy.
"It is clear we and football need to find another way to tackle racism," the team said in a Sunday statement. "No one should have to endure such vile abuse, be that in football or any walk of life."
Until now, the Lionesses have knelt just prior to kick-off as a show of anti-racist protest, though Carter's 2025 Euro experience has prompted the team to reconsider the gesture's effectiveness.
According to England's Lucy Bronze, the team collectively discussed whether kneeling is still having its intended impact.
"It feels like it's not if these things are still happening to our players in the biggest tournaments of their lives," Bronze told reporters on Saturday. "More needs to be done in football and society."
As for England's 2025 Euro semifinal on Tuesday, there's no deterring the the Lionesses — or Carter herself.
"Although it is a hard situation, Jess is a very strong person," said Wiegman. "She's ready to perform and compete, and that says a lot about her and the team."
The UEFA Women's Euro 2025 semifinals kick off on Tuesday afternoon, as the four remaining nations — England, Italy, Germany, and Spain — battle it out for one of two tickets to Sunday's tournament final.
Notably, a repeat of the 2023 World Cup final is still on the table, with both England and Spain advancing on opposite ends of the bracket.
Three of the four semifinal squads showcase a wealth of international experience and history, while surprise underdog Italy is surging in an attempt to shock the world.
- No. 5 England vs. No. 13 Italy, Tuesday at 3 PM ET (FOX): While Italy eyes their first major tournament final appearance since 1993, the 2022 Euro champion Lionesses will look to bounce back from their tightly contested quarterfinal clash.
- No. 3 Germany vs. No. 2 Spain, Wednesday at 3 PM ET (FOX): Expect the reigning World Cup champions to have an edge over a tested German side, but don't discount Germany's mental resolve after their own dramatic quarterfinal win.
A significant factor in the 2025 Euro semifinals will be athlete availability, as multiple teams continue to rotate their lineups deep into the tournament.
England will hope for captain Leah Williamson's return after the center back exited their quarterfinal with an ankle injury, while Germany and Spain navigate absences due to mounting yellow- and red-card violations.
The UEFA Women's Euro 2025 locked in the semifinals over the weekend, with world No. 2 Spain, No. 3 Germany, No. 5 England, and No. 13 Italy all advancing past fierce quarterfinals to secure a spot in the tournament's final four.
The only quarterfinal decided by more than one goal was Spain's 2-0 Friday victory over No. 23 Switzerland, while Italy's 2-1 thriller against No. 16 Norway narrowly avoided extra time last week.
Both England's Thursday battle with No. 6 Sweden and Germany's Saturday clash with No. 10 France needed seven rounds of penalties to determine a winner, with the prevailing nations mounting steep comebacks to punch their semifinal tickets.
"I really had a sense throughout the game, even when we were down, that it wasn't our time to go," England defender Esme Morgan said of her team's poise after falling behind 2-0 early in the match.
Penalty kicks have remained a hot topic throughout this year's tournament, with players converting just 24 of 41 attempts across the competition so far — a well below-average rate of 58.5%.
With a combined nine missed penalties on Thursday, England and Sweden's 36% conversion marked the worst rate in Women's Euro history.
Also making unflattering tournament history this weekend was Germany, who became the first Women's Euro team on record to register a comeback win after seeing a player sent off, following defender Kathrin Hendrich's 13th-minute straight red card offense.
How to watch the 2025 Euro semifinals
The 2025 Euro semifinals begin with England facing Italy on Tuesday before Germany takes on Spain on Wednesday.
Both matches kick off at 3 PM ET on their respective days, with live coverage on Fox.