By Jamie Kyte
England’s Euro 2025 triumph will be remembered for many moments, but few were more decisive than Hannah Hampton’s performances in two tense penalty shootouts. In both the quarter-final against Sweden and the final against Spain, she showed that penalties are no longer just about instinct — they’re about preparation.
Analysis Over Instinct
Before the final, Hampton came prepared — literally. She had notes taped to her arm, listing Spain’s likely penalty takers and their preferred habits. It was a low-key but deliberate move, based on hours of video analysis and input from England’s backroom team.
She went on to save penalties from Mariona Caldentey and Aitana Bonmatí, helping secure a 3–1 shootout win and England’s second consecutive Euros title.
Photo by Andy Hall on Unsplash
How the Game Has Changed
Hampton’s success isn’t an isolated case — it’s part of a broader shift in how teams approach penalties:
Scouting and data analysis now inform both goalkeeper and shooter decisions.
Goalkeeper positioning tactics (e.g. standing slightly off-centre) are used to influence striker decisions.
Mental preparation and routine are emphasised as much as technical skill.
What Hampton demonstrated was not luck — it was execution based on planning.
Quarter-Final Resilience
In the chaotic shootout against Sweden, where nine penalties were missed, Hampton was one of the few constants. Even after taking a knock late in the game, she remained composed and decisive — a critical factor in England advancing.
More Than Reaction Time
Penalty saves are often viewed as reactive moments. But Hampton’s performance showed that success at this level comes from anticipating patterns, staying mentally composed, and narrowing the margins of uncertainty through preparation.
Photo by Jannes Glas on Unsplash
Conclusion
Hannah Hampton’s performances at Euro 2025 weren’t just a personal success — they were a clear example of how elite football continues to evolve. Penalties may always carry an element of chance, but increasingly, it’s the teams that prepare best who come out on top.
J.L.Kyte@bham.ac.uk