ENGLAND were ahead for just four minutes and 52 seconds during the knockout rounds on their way to Euro 2025 glory.
Sarina Wiegman’s side produced several Houdini acts before triumphing on penalties against world champions Spain in the final.
The Lionesses had a bumpy ride in Switzerland, but always managed to come up with the goods in the big moments.
England began the tournament with a 2-1 defeat to France, before 4-0 and 6-1 routs over the Netherlands and Wales respectively saw them qualify for the knockout rounds.
Their quarter-final with Sweden got off to a disastrous start as they quickly fell 2-0 down within half an hour.
But late goals by Lucy Bronze, who went on to reveal that she played the entire tournament with a broken leg, and Young Player of the Tournament Michelle Agyemang, saw England dramatically take the game into extra time.
England missed three of their first four penalties in the subsequent shoot-out, but incredibly still managed to squeeze through.
The Lionesses fell 1-0 down 33 minutes into their semi-final clash with Italy via Barbara Bonansea’s brilliant finish.
It looked as if their luck was out, until super-sub Agyemang dramatically levelled six minutes into stoppage time to force an extra half hour.
Chloe Kelly, who had also risen from the bench, then scored the rebound from her own 119th minute penalty to win it for Wiegman’s team.
The following four minutes and 52 seconds, which includes stoppage time played at the end of the 120, were the only minutes in which England led during the entire knockout rounds.
Next came the formidable Spain, who beat England in the World Cup final two years ago.
Again England fell behind in the first half, this time courtesy of Mariona Caldentey.
But again the Lionesses refused to give up – levelling through centre forward Alessia Russo shortly before the hour mark.
England were forced to endure plenty of pressure throughout the rest of the contest, but defended stoutly to force penalties.
Beth Mead missed the Lionesses’ first penalty of the shootout, having been forced to retake her initial effort due to a double touch.
But the reigning European champions had one more comeback up their sleeves, with two saves by Hannah Hampton reversing the advantage in the shootout.
Captain Leah Williamson then missed from 12 yards, handing Spain an opportunity to level at 2-2.
But substitute forward Salma Paralluelo missed the target, giving England an opportunity to win it.
And Kelly did just that, echoing her heroics from England’s Euros triumph three years ago to again bag the winner for her country, sending her team-mates, and the nation, into delirium.
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