A sublime team move finished off by Ella Toone gave the Lionesses a deserved lead midway through the first half. Williamson played the ball forward to James before Stanway and Bronze linked up to slice through Brazil’s defence, and Toone’s was there to finish the job when Bronze cut the ball back.

Brazil had to improve in the second half and did with England often playing themselves into trouble against the Seleacao’s press, with Mary Earps tipping the dangerous Geyse’s shot onto the crossbar on the hour mark.

England grew back into the game but Brazil were able to snatch an equaliser in the third minute of injury time when Mary Earps spilled the ball into the path of Andressa, who was never going to miss, to take the game to penalties.

The first two spot-kicks were on target before saves from both goalkeepers, but the crucial moment was when Arsenal defender Rafaelle smashed her penalty onto the crossbar to hand the Lionesses the advantage, as Chloe Kelly was the hero once again with the winning penalty.

Selecao skipper Rafaelle started in the middle of Brazil’s back five whilst Williamson partnered Alex Greenwood in England’s defence. Lotte Wubben-Moy was called up to Sarina Wiegman’s squad as a replacement for the injured Millie Bright but did not make the bench for tonight’s Finalissima.

Williamson’s battle with Geyse Ferreira of Barcelona was an intriguing one, with the two a close match in both physicality and pace. A lot of England’s intent on playing out from the back came through their captain but Brazil pressed well and were able to force some errors as well as threatening on the counter.

In the lead-up to the Finalissima both captains were full of praise for each other in a press conference that saw both managers and captains interviewed together. Rafaelle joked that Williamson is “half-Brazilian because she has the skills”, with Williamson calling her Arsenal centre-back partner a “warrior”.

Rafaelle captained Brazil to Copa America Femenina glory last summer and was part of a defence that did not concede a single goal in the entire tournament, whilst Williamson skippered England to their first ever European Championships success. The 26 year old also has two Arnold Clark Cups to her name as England captain, hitting a brace against Belgium in this year’s tournament, and lifted yet another trophy as captain of her nation at Wembley tonight.