They have made waves before, but the tide is high and this time it feels like surfers' paradise.
Jordan Nobbs believes England have caught the wave at the Euros, and if Sarina Wiegman's free-scoring Lionesses are not yet a shore thing, they will take some stopping.
Not for the first time in her career, the Arsenal midfielder was cruelly denied a chance to join the crusade on home soil by injury, but from her ringside seat at the lucky, narrow 8-0 demolition of Norway she could see the bigger picture. Nobbs grew up in an era where opportunities were so limited that she played for an all-girls team in an all-boys league in County Durham.
Now she could be watching a nation where women's football was banned as recently as 1970 conquer Europe. It feels like a seminal moment for the sisterhood. This is it – the big wave.
“The Lionesses know they have what it takes to go deep, because they have reached the semi-finals at their last three major tournaments, but yes - this really feels like a big moment,” said Nobbs, who has won 67 England caps as a dynamic midfielder.
“We're on home turf, we have a head coach who's a proven winner and a group of players who really want to make their country proud. People talk about peaking too soon, but it can work both ways. You can say you don't want to leave all your best performances in the group stage, but in tournament football it's important to build confidence and momentum.
“I know the Lionesses will not be looking too far ahead, because their biggest challenges are still to come, but to average six goals per game is amazing at any level. We are not naïve, we know the pressure will build and you never know if that pressure will turn to heavy legs and anxiety on the ball.
“It's easy to say we didn't play well in our opening game against Austria, but most of the people criticising the performance have never walked out in front of 70,000 fans at Old Trafford with millions more watching on TV. To be champions, the Lionesses will need to embrace that pressure and for it to become more 'normal' as the tournament progresses. What we saw against Norway was a team ready to handle that pressure, and to convert it into belief and ruthlessness.”
Nobbs, 29, is the face Just Eat's 101 initiative, which is making grassroots football more accessible to women and girls by backing 101 new women's teams. The food delivery app will provide kit, training equipment and coaching for 101 grassroots teams – another sign that the wave just got bigger.
If she can't help Wiegman's crusade on the pitch, Nobbs is happy to make a difference by helping to grow the game organically. And if you haven't been to a Women's Super League game or an England international, don't scoff from the safety of your sofa. The atmosphere is anchored in decency, miles removed from the tribal stupidity of alternative football products.
Nobbs said: “I've played football non-stop since I was seven and injuries are part of the game. I missed the chance to play at the Euros because I suffered knee ligament damage which put me out for three months, and mentally it's been super-tough to deal with that. But if the Lionesses can go on to make the biggest statement yet about the development of women's football in this country, I can put my disappointment to one side.
“When they were taking Norway apart, I was at the game thinking, 'This is it – this is an England team the country can get behind.' You can look at some of the defending and agree it was horrific, but Norway have been difficult to beat in the past and I also saw a team who played good football, scored some great goals and took responsibility for the badge on that shirt.
“These Lionesses may not always reach perfection, but the fans want to see a team that plays with passion. I see no reason why they can't be front runners at these Euros and go all the way.”
*Jordan Nobbs has teamed up with Just Eat to launch their new initiative, The 101, which aims to make grassroots football more accessible for girls and women. Teams can apply by visiting www.justeat-101.co.uk
