Toone retained her place in the XI – having started each of England’s last four games on the run to the final – and was part of a vigorous Lionesses start, although it was Spain who cut through the tension to take the lead after 25 minutes.
Ella’s former United team-mate Ona Batlle, Spain’s right-back who departed the Reds in 2023 to join Barcelona, crossed for Arsenal midfielder and WSL Player of the Season Mariona Caldentey to head the world champions into a first-half ascendency.
One goal was enough for the Spanish team to win the 2023 World Cup final between the sides, but another former Red would have a say on the contest to ensure that wasn’t the case this time around. Alessia Russo, now of Arsenal, levelled the game with a header of her own after the break to make it 1-1.
That’s what the scoreline read at 90 minutes, and after a tiring extra half-hour, meaning it was penalties to decide the winner of the tournament. Spain were one-up after a kick each, but two saves from Chelsea keeper Hannah Hampton and a miss kept England alive, while successful efforts from fellow Blue Niamh Charles and City’s Alex Greenwood set the stage for Arsenal’s Chloe Kelly to seal the deal.
