Leah Williamson files into a packed-out press conference with a level of assuredness fitting for a player who will wear the captain’s armband on the night of a major tournament final.
Every seat in the house is filled to the brim with journalists, and some have been forced to take to the aisles to hear what the England star and her boss have to say on the eve of another historic day in English footballing history.
In one ear is the Arsenal cannon — a mainstay piece of jewellery ever since a stunning night in Lisbon only two months ago when they won the Champions League.
Williamson takes a sip of water, smiles at a couple of familiar faces in the crowd, including her former Gunners team-mate Jen Beattie, and waits patiently for her turn to talk.
After briefly responding to a question on how much Lauren James means to the squad — ‘Lauren brings something different, just like the others’ — she is asked whether her team have been waiting to peak at the right moment.
‘Yeah, it was all part of the plan. We’ve just been making sure fans have got their money’s worth,’ she says, drawing laughter from the room.
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Despite Lauren James’ precarious fitness status, Williamson insisted the whole team will ‘play through absolutely anything’
This isn’t a player racked with nerves the night before a tournament final. This is someone who is making the most of being back on the biggest stage after the ‘awful’ experience of watching her team play Sunday night’s opponents from the sidelines two years ago due to injury, unable to affect events as her side saw their hopes of becoming champions of the world slip through their fingers.
‘Once you’re a part of a team, you know how much a tournament takes out of you, and I know how tired you are when you get to that stage.
‘To sit with the families and know what they go through — it makes me reflect on this tournament, and we haven’t been very kind to them. Anybody would give anything to be a part of their team when they’re going through moments like that.’
The 28-year-old had her own nervy moment in this year’s quarter-final, where she rolled her ankle, but she played 85 minutes of the semi-final and has recovered well.
As for the rest of her team, Williamson promises there is no pain barrier too high to prevent them from giving everything to retain their trophy on Sunday.
‘I can speak for every single member of the squad when I say that we will play through absolutely anything to be involved on this stage.’
Spain start as favourites, having scored more goals, conceded fewer and enjoyed more possession than any other team here.
But while the bookies may be telling people to bet against them, England’s leader is in no mood to be dubbed the underdogs.
While the Lionesses are the bookies’ underdogs, Williamson still thinks Spain ‘need to be at their best’ to beat England
‘We play a game against the world champions, who continue to prove themselves over and over in the way that they play football. They’re a fantastic footballing team — they’re the best at what they do — and we are very much aware of that.
‘We think we are pretty good in some areas as well, so we need to be at our best to beat Spain.
‘I think they need to be at their best to beat us too. I think there’s a lot of respect between the two teams, and I’d be hesitant to pick a clear underdog in this scenario.
‘You can’t focus on the last game too much, whatever that may be. We look at Spain in this tournament, as I’m sure they’ve looked at us, and tomorrow’s a new game.’
