This is the opportunity for England to change the women’s game forever

I remember warming up for the 2009 Women’s European Championship final and looking at our German opponents and thinking how they were more professional, better resourced and on for a hefty bonus if they won. On Sunday, thanks to years of progress, the two teams will start on a level playing field.

There might not have been the same level of coverage or hype but it meant the same to pull on the Three Lions that day as it will for those England players on Sunday at Wembley. It was fantastic for me to score in a major final and were in the match until half-time but Germany were fitter, faster and stronger, so it is no surprise they won 6-2. We did well to get to the final and got taught a lesson in the end.

The comparative lack of coverage of England’s previous final does mean it can be a blind spot in history. During last year’s men’s tournament people were saying how it was the first time England had reached a major final since 1966, ignoring our achievements in 2009. That mistake will not happen in the future, whatever the outcome against Germany, thanks to what this tournament has done for the women’s game.

In the 13 years since that final the game in England has changed beyond belief. The players are no longer required to arrange training sessions in the park or go to the gym in their own time – they are professional. Back then only a handful of players who had gone to America were full-time, including me. Now all the players are professional and the Women’s Super League, which has helped change the landscape, is one of the best competitions in the world.

There is a survivor from that night in Helsinki all those years ago. My good friend Jill Scott started alongside me against Germany and will be part of the England