England goalkeeper Hannah Hampton slyly saved her penalty shootout ‘cheat sheet’ taped to her arm on her solution to changing into England’s hero in opposition to Spain.
Hampton, 24, saved two spot-kicks from Mariona Caldentey and Aitana Bonmati to assist the Lionesses retain their Euro 2025 crown in Basel.
The 2 groups had been taken the space within the nerve-shredding showdown after Caldentey’s first-half breakthrough was cancelled out by Alessia Russo’s header.
As Sarina Wiegman appeared to gee up her penalty takers in a huddle, Chelsea stopper Hampton was noticed within the dugout in dialog with a coach.
The cameras then revealed a bit of paper taped to her forearm that confirmed the doubtless instructions Spain’s superstars would look to ship their efforts.
Goalkeepers have traditionally saved their notes on their water bottle, operating the danger of the item being taken and handing the opposition a last-ditch benefit.
England’s hero Hannah Hampton saved her penalty shoot-out ‘cheat sheet’ taped to her arm
Hampton’s homework paid off as she went on to save lots of two spot-kicks within the Euro 2025 closing
The stopper’s defiance from the spot helped the Lionesses beat Spain and retain their crown
However Hampton’s ploy paid off in type, clearing the way in which for Chloe Kelly to transform the profitable penalty and spark jubilant scenes of celebration for the Lionesses.
Because the ticker tape fell, the goalkeeper revealed Wiegman delivered an inspirational message to her troops earlier than the shootout, declaring: ‘That is England!’
‘I feel that is our second,’ Hampton added. ‘We have dug in for the 120 minutes, accomplished what we have wanted to do to maintain Spain out.
‘It was only one kick and that was it. Higher pens than the final time, let’s be trustworthy!’
Hampton additionally saluted the never-say-die spirit of her team-mates, saying: ‘This crew’s simply unbelievable, unbelievable. We have proven all through this event we are able to come again once we go a objective down. We have got that grit, we have got English blood in us.
‘We by no means say die and we simply hold going and we did that once more at present.’
In accordance with Betfair, Hampton is now the second favorite to win the BBC Sports activities Persona of the 12 months award, behind solely Masters champion Rory McIlroy, after the Northern Irishman sealed the profession Grand Slam of Majors.
It marks a outstanding rise for Hampton, who was an understudy to Mary Earps throughout England’s Euros triumph in 2022 and on the 2023 Ladies’s World Cup.
Hampton was congratulated by Prince William earlier than England lifted the hallowed trophy
She was mobbed by her team-mates within the celebrations after coming to her nation’s rescue
The triumph marked the very first time England have gained a serious trophy on international soil
Earps herself gained the BBC Sports activities Persona of the 12 months award in 2023 after saving a penalty within the World Cup closing – additionally in opposition to Spain – albeit in a shedding trigger.
Extremely, Hampton was born with a critical eye situation and was advised by docs that she mustn’t play soccer.
She underwent a number of operations in an try and appropriate her imaginative and prescient however nonetheless suffers from depth notion points.
‘I’ve at all times gone via life making an attempt to show folks unsuitable,’ Hampton mentioned.
‘I used to be advised from a younger age that I could not play soccer, that it would not be a career I might pursue. However right here I’m.’
