Leah Williamson recordsdata right into a packed-out press convention with a degree of assuredness becoming for a participant who will put on the captain’s armband on the evening of a serious match ultimate.
Each seat in the home is crammed to the brim with journalists, and a few have been pressured to take to the aisles to listen to what the England star and her boss should say on the eve of one other historic day in English footballing historical past.
In a single ear is the Arsenal cannon — a mainstay piece of jewelry ever since a surprising evening in Lisbon solely two months in the past after they gained the Champions League.
Williamson takes a sip of water, smiles at a few acquainted faces within the crowd, together with her former Gunners team-mate Jen Beattie, and waits patiently for her flip to speak.
After briefly responding to a query on how a lot Lauren James means to the squad — ‘Lauren brings one thing completely different, identical to the others’ — she is requested whether or not her crew have been ready to peak on the proper second.
‘Yeah, it was all a part of the plan. We’ve simply been ensuring followers have gotten their cash’s price,’ she says, drawing laughter from the room.
Leah Williamson needs to avenge England’s World Cup 2023 heartbreak vs Spain on Sunday
Williamson missed the 2023 ultimate by damage however will captain England within the 2025 Euro ultimate
Regardless of Lauren James’ precarious health standing, Williamson insisted the entire crew will ‘play by completely something’
This isn’t a participant racked with nerves the evening earlier than a match ultimate. That is somebody who’s benefiting from being again on the most important stage after the ‘terrible’ expertise of watching her crew play Sunday evening’s opponents from the sidelines two years in the past resulting from damage, unable to have an effect on occasions as her aspect noticed their hopes of changing into champions of the world slip by their fingers.
‘When you’re part of a crew, you understand how a lot a match takes out of you, and I understand how drained you’re once you get to that stage.
‘To sit down with the households and know what they undergo — it makes me mirror on this match, and we haven’t been very sort to them. Anyone would give something to be part of their crew after they’re going by moments like that.’
The 28-year-old had her personal nervy second on this yr’s quarter-final, the place she rolled her ankle, however she performed 85 minutes of the semi-final and has recovered effectively.
As for the remainder of her crew, Williamson guarantees there is no such thing as a ache barrier too excessive to stop them from giving all the things to retain their trophy on Sunday.
‘I can converse for each single member of the squad once I say that we are going to play by completely something to be concerned on this stage.’
Spain begin as favourites, having scored extra objectives, conceded fewer and loved extra possession than another crew right here.
However whereas the bookies could also be telling individuals to wager in opposition to them, England’s chief is in no temper to be dubbed the underdogs.
Whereas the Lionesses are the bookies’ underdogs, Williamson nonetheless thinks Spain ‘should be at their greatest’ to beat England
‘We play a recreation in opposition to the world champions, who proceed to show themselves again and again in the best way that they play soccer. They’re a improbable footballing crew — they’re the most effective at what they do — and we’re very a lot conscious of that.
‘We expect we’re fairly good in some areas as effectively, so we should be at our greatest to beat Spain.
‘I believe they should be at their greatest to beat us too. I believe there’s lots of respect between the 2 groups, and I’d be hesitant to select a transparent underdog on this situation.
‘You’ll be able to’t concentrate on the final recreation an excessive amount of, no matter which may be. We have a look at Spain on this match, as I’m positive they’ve checked out us, and tomorrow’s a brand new recreation.’
