Hannah Hampton has hilariously revealed that she threw Spain goalkeeper Cata Coll’s water bottle containing England’s penalty information into the stands during the shootout in the Euros final.
The match had gone to penalties after ending 1-1 in normal time, with Alessia Russo cancelling out Mariona Caldentey’s early header.
As Sarina Wiegman gathered her penalty takers into a huddle, Chelsea stopper Hampton was seen in conversation with a coach on the sidelines.
Cameras picked up a piece of paper taped to her forearm, detailing the likely directions Spain’s players would aim their penalties.
Hampton has now explained how she turned the tables after noticing Coll’s water bottle had been left unattended.
Speaking to talkSPORT, Hampton said: ‘The Spanish keeper had it (the penalty information) on her bottle, so I thought when she was going in goal, I’d just pick it up and chuck it into the English fans so she can’t have it.
Hannah Hampton has revealed she threw her rival’s penalty cheat sheet into the crowd
Spain goalkeeper Cata Coll had information about England players on her bottle, but Hampton saw it and got rid
England won a dramatic final on penalties, with Chloe Kelly netting the winning spot kick
‘I don’t ever put it on a bottle because anyone can do that so I put it on my arm.’
An incredulous Sam Matterface replied: Picked up her bottle and threw it?’
And Hampton replied: ‘Yeah, it wasn’t hard. When she’s gone in the goal, it’s on its own isn’t it? It’s in the towel.’
When Coll returned to her towel, she was visibly confused to find a replacement bottle – which Hampton had put there – but no notes, and was left searching for her original one.
‘She was walking back to take the penalty and I was walking the other way and she was so confused, and I was just trying not to burst out laughing, being like, “I don’t know what’s happening!”.’
Matterface added: ‘This is happening at the key moment in a penalty shootout for the title of European champions?’ to which Hampton replied: ‘Yeah, you’ve got to do something, haven’t you?’
England ended up winning the shootout, with Alex Greenwood, Niamh Charles and Chloe Kelly all converting from the spot as the Lionesses retained their European crown.
Hampton meanwhile saved two penalties from Mariona Caldentey and Aitana Bonmati and Salma Paralluelo missed hers.
