Captain's place in England history and legacy is clear

Leah Williamson's display alongside the equally excellent Jess Carter brought the bravery and calm that her side required in the Euro 2025 final, writes Jamie Braidwood

- By Jamie Braidwood

Amid the chaos, there was another moment of calm. Leah Williamson had just made history as England captain, but first she paused. While her teammates chased after Chloe Kelly and Hannah Hampton, and as Michelle Agyemang and Jess Carter dropped to their knees on the pitch, Williamson turned to her beaten Spanish opponents and began to shake each of them by the hand.

No England captain had been here before, with Williamson becoming the first player in the country's history to skipper a team to two tournament victories, as well as the first to lead a side to a title on foreign soil. And while there were many heroes on yet another improbable night, to complete a “chaotic and ridiculous” tournament in the words of Sarina Wiegman, it was the clear-mindedness of Williamson that repeatedly shone through.

To face this Spain team as a centre-back across 120 minutes is to essentially be required to perform two jobs at once: first, to constantly evaluate the danger and protect the box by any means possible, and second, to show the bravery and sense to choose the moments where you play, to try to stop Spain from suffocating you by embracing the risks head on. Alongside the equally courageous Carter, England's centre-backs were largely faultless.