ENGLAND goalkeeper Hannah Hampton has revealed how she got the better of her Spanish counterpart during the Euro 2025 final.
The Lionesses took world champions Spain to a penalty shootout last month when Alessia Russo cancelled out Mariona Caldentey’s opener in Basel.
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With the score 1-1 after 90 minutes, the clash went to extra-time but the two nations could not be separated.
Penalties were needed as a result – but one clever move gave Hampton the upper-hand.
The goalkeeper took the water bottle belonging to Spain shot-stopper Cata Coll when she was not looking and threw it into the crowd of England supporters.
Coll had planned to use the bottle as a ‘cheat sheet’ with individual notes on every Lioness for the shootout.
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However, the genius move from Hampton left her empty-handed.
The England hero told talkSPORT on Friday: “The Spanish keeper had it on her bottle.
“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 continued: “I never put it on a bottle because anyone can do that, so that’s why I put it on my arm.
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“It wasn’t hard, when she’s in the goal it’s on its own isn’t it? You just pick it up?
“When she saw my bottle in there instead, mine’s blank but it has the same sponsors and stuff so I just put mine in there, chucked hers in with the fans and she had an empty bottle.
“She was walking back and I was walking the other way and she was so confused, I was trying so hard not to burst out laughing!”
The 24-year-old’s plan worked as England went on to win the shootout 3-1 thanks to goals from Alex Greenwood, Niamh Charles and Chloe Kelly.
Meanwhile, Hampton saved attempts from Ballon d’Or contenders Caldentey and Aitana Bonmati.
The goalkeeper was named in the Team of the Tournament last week and yesterday earned a place on the Ballon d’Or shortlist as well as the Yashin Trophy shortlist.
She is also in line to be awarded an MBE in the New Year Honours list.
