More drama, another penalty shootout, and never giving up.

England successfully defended their UEFA Women's European Championship title on Sunday in their own special way, thriving in high tension yet again to take down World Cup champions Spain in a shootout in the final.

Chloe Kelly lashed in her spot kick to give England a 3-1 win on penalties after a 1-1 draw in extra time.

"I was cool, I was composed, and I knew I was going to hit the back of the net," said Kelly, whose goals decided a second straight Women's Euro final, not to mention her team's semifinal five days earlier.

England goalkeeper Hannah Hampton saved spot kicks from Mariona Caldentey and superstar midfielder Aitana Bonmati, before substitute Salma Paralluelo sailed her shot wide of the net.

"It was the most chaotic tournament we played," said England coach Sarina Wiegman, who has now won three straight Women's Euro titles.

England had fallen behind in the first half, fought back in the second, and relied on superb substitutes – including Kelly – just as the Lionesses did against Italy and Sweden (on penalties) previously in the knockout rounds.

"I actually can't believe it myself," Wiegman said. "How can this happen? But it happens. We're just going to party tonight."

England leveled the score in the 57th minute on Alessia Russo's header from a pass by Kelly, after Caldentey had given Spain the lead in the 25th, finishing Ona Batlle's cross.

Spain trailed for only four minutes in the entire tournament – and not for one second against England – but could not seal their first European title against the team they beat in the World Cup final in Sydney two years ago.

"I think this team deserved more. At least not living with this bitter feeling," Spain coach Montse Tome said after the match.

Kelly had scored an extra-time winning goal for England in the final at Wembley Stadium three years ago to beat Germany 2-1.

In extra time Spain had good possession in the England penalty area multiple times, but could not come up with a decisive goal.

"It was cruel," Bonmatí told Spanish broadcaster La 1, after being named Best Player of the Tournament. "We played better, created more scoring chances, but in football sometimes that's not enough."

Spain goalkeeper Cata Coll saved spot kicks from England captain Leah Williamson and the side's first by Beth Mead.

It was fitting in England's memorable tournament that Mead's penalty had to be retaken under a new rule that allows a second chance when a player scores by slipping and touching the ball twice. It did not matter after Hampton's saves.

Wiegman has still never been eliminated from a Women's European Championship. Despite how close she came three times this month, she acknowledged that fact after the final whistle Sunday.

The top women's national team coach of her generation now boasts a continental hat-trick after leading England to victory in 2022 and her native Netherlands in 2017.

Both of those titles were won as tournament hosts, and no England senior team – men or women – had previously won a world or continental title abroad.

Wiegman also extended the run of title-winning female coaches to eight Women's Euro editions across 28 years, despite being outnumbered by male counterparts at every edition.