Lauren James was pressured off late within the first half of the Euro 2025 closing, the England star withdrawn after Mariona Caldentey had given world champions Spain a 1-0 lead in Basel.
Caldentey headed Spain into the lead within the twenty fifth minute, with reigning European champions England punished for failing to take some gilt-edged possibilities within the early levels.
And issues obtained worse for the Lionesses quarter-hour later as Chelsea ahead James limped off.
James had been a doubt for the ultimate due to an ankle damage, and her recreation got here to a untimely finish after she went to floor in discomfort contained in the England penalty space.
Chloe Kelly got here on to interchange James, hoping to have the identical influence as she did within the Euro 2022 closing, when she scored the extra-time winner towards Germany.
Kelly, who alongside teenager Michelle Agyemang has been instrumental off the bench for England on this event, rapidly supplied power from the left flank, dragging an effort huge shortly earlier than half-time because the Lionesses sought to produce another fightback after coming from behind to knock out each Sweden and Italy en path to the ultimate.