England goalkeeper Mary Earps: ‘People tell me I’m worth millions. Before the World Cup, they’d have said about £10’

Mary Earps: ‘It’s an incredible feeling – that the nation really got behind us as a team this summer, but also me, individually.’ Photograph: Jon Shard/The Guardian

It is a little after 9.20pm on a clear August night at Sydney’s Stadium Australia. The stands are fizzing with the energy of more than 75,000 football fans, while back in England, where it is late morning, another 13 million people are watching nervously on TV.

Spain are already 1-0 up against England in the Women’s World Cup final, and have been awarded a penalty in the 69th minute. A VAR check has confirmed a handball by the England midfielder Keira Walsh, and the Lionesses’ confidence is waning. Spain’s Jenni Hermoso steps up to take the spot kick, and it looks as if England are heading for certain defeat. A second goal, at this stage of the game, would kill the dream.