Cata Coll Denies Throwing Cheat Sheet at Euros Final Penalty
Spain’s Cata Coll Responds to Hannah Hampton’s Claim About Throwing Her Cheat Sheet During Euros Final
Spain’s goalkeeper Cata Coll has publicly addressed England’s Hannah Hampton, who claimed she threw a cheat sheet into the crowd during the penalty shootout of the Euros final.
England triumphed in the shootout in Switzerland two weeks ago, with players Alex Greenwood, Niamh Charles, and Chloe Kelly successfully converting their penalties to secure the Lionesses’ European title. Hampton notably saved two penalties from Mariona Caldentey and Aitana Bonmati, while Salma Paralluelo missed.
During an interview, Hampton stated she noticed Coll’s cheat sheet—detailing England’s players—on her water bottle. Hampton claimed she grabbed it and threw it into the stands, believing it was a distraction.
In response, Coll dismissed Hampton’s story on social media, writing: “Okay, okay, calm down. If it were true…”
Hampton added in an interview with talkSPORT that she observed the cheat sheet on Coll’s bottle and decided to throw it away, thinking it might give an unfair advantage. She explained she took the note from the bottle when Coll was in goal and flicked it into the fans to prevent her from using it.
Hampton described the incident: “The Spanish keeper had her cheat sheet on her water bottle, so I thought I’d just grab it and toss it into the crowd, so she wouldn’t have it.”
Coll, meanwhile, recounted returning to her towel after the penalty and finding her water bottle replaced by one Hampton had placed there, but without the notes—leaving her puzzled and searching for her original bottle. She said, “She was walking back to take her penalty, and I was walking away; she looked confused, and I couldn’t help but try not to laugh.”
Commentator Sam Matterface questioned Hampton’s actions, and she confirmed she threw the cheat sheet, suggesting it was a strategic move during a crucial moment in the shootout. Hampton remarked, “You’ve got to do something at that point.”
The incident has garnered attention as part of the intense competition during the Euros final, with Hampton being one of five England players shortlisted for the Women’s Ballon d’Or, alongside Lucy Bronze, Chloe Kelly, Alessia Russo, and Leah Williamson.