The 37-year-old former footballer admitted the Lionesses’ 2-1 victory over Germany in the final was the “icing on the cake” for her lengthy career and it vindicated all the “sacrifices” she had made over the years.

She told FourFourTwo magazine of the final: “The match that was the icing on the cake for my career – I can’t put it into words to do it justice.

“I’ve been asked about that day so frequently that you’d think I’d be used to it now, but I still get goosebumps reliving it.

“Winning that game against Germany made everything I’d done worthwhile – the countless sacrifices and difficulties I’d endured along the way.

“An entire life dedicated to football vindicated in the space of 120 glorious, excruciating minutes.”

Jill’s mementos from the final can always lift her up if she’s having a bad time because the victory was the “best day” of her life.

She added: “I cherish my winner’s medal so much and have a photograph in my kitchen of me and the girls holding the trophy at Wembley.

“If I’m ever having a bad day or not in a good mood, one glance at that and I’m back on top.

“The best day of my life, and the game that had the greatest impact on my career.”