Call them arrogant, if you want. Call them hubristic and self-conceited. Call them ‘the Bayern Munich of women’s football’. Call their celebrations “distasteful”, too. Sorry, but the United States will not care because whatever your opinion of them, you must also call them world champions.

For a fourth time in eight tournaments, the Women’s World Cup will travel Stateside after a Megan Rapinoe penalty and a sublime Rose Lavelle goal beat the Netherlands in Lyon. The identity of the scorers was significant: a long-standing icon and a future figurehead, in a team whose dominance seems constant.

It was the American victory many expected, though it did not come with the ease they also predicted. For the first time at this tournament, the US failed to score before 13th minute. They had to wait an hour, in the end, against a Dutch side that sat tight, broke at speed and frustrated them.

Head coach Sarina Weigman’s plan worked until her centre-half, Stefanie van der Gragt, was correctly penalised for raking her studs down Alex Morgan’s arm. Golden Ball winner Rapinoe converted from the spot to take the Golden Boot away from her team-mate. The goal also took the game away from the Netherlands.

And if Rapinoe represents the US’s supremacy of this sport over the past eight years, they will hope Lavelle’s goal is a harbinger of more glories to come. The 24-year-old scored the type of goal she must have spent her formative years dreaming of, when she was watching the women she now plays and wins with on the same rarefied level.

Women's World Cup final player ratings Show all 23 1 /23 Women's World Cup final player ratings Women's World Cup final player ratings Women's World Cup final player ratings TOPSHOT - The trophy is on display prior to the France 2019 Womens World Cup football final match between USA and the Netherlands, on July 7, 2019, at the Lyon Stadium in Lyon, central-eastern France. (Photo by FRANCK FIFE / AFP)FRANCK FIFE/AFP/Getty Images FRANCK FIFE AFP/Getty Images Women's World Cup final player ratings Alyssa Naeher - 7 United State's goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher during the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup France Final match between United States and Netherlands at Groupama Stadium on July 7, 2019 in Lyon, France. (Photo by Baptiste Fernandez/Icon Sport via Getty Images) Baptiste Fernandez Icon Sport via Getty Images Women's World Cup final player ratings Kelley O'Hara - 6 LYON, FRANCE - JULY 07: Kelley O'hara of the USA passes the ball during the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup France Final match between The United States of America and The Netherlands at Stade de Lyon on July 07, 2019 in Lyon, France. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images) Robert Cianflone Getty Images Women's World Cup final player ratings Abby Dahlkemper - 7 Soccer Football - Women's World Cup Final - United States v Netherlands - Groupama Stadium, Lyon, France - July 7, 2019 Abby Dahlkemper of the U.S. reacts REUTERS/Benoit Tessier BENOIT TESSIER REUTERS Women's World Cup final player ratings Becky Sauerbrunn - 7 LYON, FRANCE - JULY 07: Becky Sauerbrunn of the USA reacts with an injury during the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup France Final match between The United States of America and The Netherlands at Stade de Lyon on July 07, 2019 in Lyon, France. (Photo by Catherine Ivill - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images) Catherine Ivill - FIFA FIFA via Getty Images Women's World Cup final player ratings Crystal Dunn - 8 United States' Crystal Dunn, left, challenges Netherlands' Lineth Beerensteyn, right, during the Women's World Cup final soccer match between US and The Netherlands at the Stade de Lyon in Decines, outside Lyon, France, Sunday, July 7, 2019. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino) Alessandra Tarantino AP Women's World Cup final player ratings Rose Lavelle - 9 United States' midfielder Rose Lavelle celebrate scoring the 2-0 goal during the France 2019 Womens World Cup football final match between USA and the Netherlands, on July 7, 2019, at the Lyon Stadium in Lyon, central-eastern France. (Photo by Philippe DESMAZES / AFP)PHILIPPE DESMAZES/AFP/Getty Images PHILIPPE DESMAZES AFP/Getty Images Women's World Cup final player ratings Julie Ertz - 8 LYON, FRANCE - JULY 07: Julie Ertz of the USA runs with the ball under pressure from Vivianne Miedema of the Netherlands during the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup France Final match between The United States of America and The Netherlands at Stade de Lyon on July 07, 2019 in Lyon, France. (Photo by Naomi Baker - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images) Naomi Baker - FIFA FIFA via Getty Images Women's World Cup final player ratings Sam Mewis - 6 LYON, FRANCE - JULY 07: Jackie Groenen of the Netherlands is challenged by Samantha Mewis of the USA during the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup France Final match between The United States of America and The Netherlands at Stade de Lyon on July 07, 2019 in Lyon, France. (Photo by Naomi Baker - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images) Naomi Baker - FIFA FIFA via Getty Images Women's World Cup final player ratings Tobin Heath - 8 TOPSHOT - Netherlands' defender Dominique Bloodworth and United States' forward Tobin Heath vie for the ball during the France 2019 Womens World Cup football final match between USA and the Netherlands, on July 7, 2019, at the Lyon Stadium in Lyon, central-eastern France. (Photo by CHRISTOPHE SIMON / AFP)CHRISTOPHE SIMON/AFP/Getty Images CHRISTOPHE SIMON AFP/Getty Images Women's World Cup final player ratings Alex Morgan - 7 LYON, FRANCE - JULY 07: Alex Morgan of the USA looks on during the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup France Final match between The United States of America and The Netherlands at Stade de Lyon on July 07, 2019 in Lyon, France. (Photo by Naomi Baker - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images) Naomi Baker - FIFA FIFA via Getty Images Women's World Cup final player ratings Megan Rapinoe - 6 LYON, FRANCE - JULY 07: Megan Rapinoe of the USA celebrates with teammates Alex Morgan and Samantha Mewis after scoring her team's first goal during the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup France Final match between The United States of America and The Netherlands at Stade de Lyon on July 07, 2019 in Lyon, France. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images) Richard Heathcote Getty Images Women's World Cup final player ratings Sari Van Veenendaal - 8 LYON, FRANCE - JULY 07: Sari Van Veenendaal of the Netherlands reacts as Megan Rapinoe of the USA (not in frame) scores her team's first goal from the penalty spot during the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup France Final match between The United States of America and The Netherlands at Stade de Lyon on July 07, 2019 in Lyon, France. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images) Robert Cianflone Getty Images Women's World Cup final player ratings Desiree Van Lunteren - 6 LYON, FRANCE - JULY 07: Samantha Mewis of the USA battles for possession with Desiree Van Lunteren of the Netherlands during the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup France Final match between The United States of America and The Netherlands at Stade de Lyon on July 07, 2019 in Lyon, France. (Photo by Maja Hitij/Getty Images) Maja Hitij Getty Images Women's World Cup final player ratings Anouk Dekker - 7 CORRECTS ID AT RIGHT TO ALEX MORGAN, NOT EMILY SONNETT- Netherlands' Anouk Dekker, left, is challenged by United States' Alex Morgan during the Women's World Cup final soccer match between US and The Netherlands at the Stade de Lyon in Decines, outside Lyon, France, Sunday, July 7, 2019. (AP Photo/David Vincent) David Vincent AP Women's World Cup final player ratings Stefanie Van der Gragt - 6 LYON, FRANCE - JULY 07: Alex Morgan of the USA is fouled by Stefanie Van der Gragt of the Netherlands leading to a penalty during the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup France Final match between The United States of America and The Netherlands at Stade de Lyon on July 07, 2019 in Lyon, France. (Photo by Maja Hitij/Getty Images) Maja Hitij Getty Images Women's World Cup final player ratings Dominique Bloodworth - 7 Netherland's defender Dominique Bloodworth during the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup France Final match between United States and Netherlands at Groupama Stadium on July 7, 2019 in Lyon, France. (Photo by Baptiste Fernandez/Icon Sport via Getty Images) Baptiste Fernandez Icon Sport via Getty Images Women's World Cup final player ratings Jackie Groenen - 6 LYON, FRANCE - JULY 07: Jackie Groenen of the Netherlands is challenged by Samantha Mewis of the USA during the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup France Final match between The United States of America and The Netherlands at Stade de Lyon on July 07, 2019 in Lyon, France. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images) Richard Heathcote Getty Images Women's World Cup final player ratings Sherida Spitse - 7 LYON, FRANCE - JULY 07: Sherida Spitse of the Netherlands tackles Samantha Mewis of the USA during the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup France Final match between The United States of America and The Netherlands at Stade de Lyon on July 07, 2019 in Lyon, France. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images) Robert Cianflone Getty Images Women's World Cup final player ratings Danielle van de Donk - 7 LYON, FRANCE - JULY 07: Danielle Van De Donk of the Netherlands runs for the ball as Megan Rapinoe of the USA reacts during the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup France Final match between The United States of America and The Netherlands at Stade de Lyon on July 07, 2019 in Lyon, France. (Photo by Marianna Massey - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images) Marianna Massey - FIFA FIFA via Getty Images Women's World Cup final player ratings Vivianne Meidema - 7 epa07701680 Julie Ertz of the USA (L) in action against Vivianne Miedema of the the Netherlands (R) during the FIFA Women's World Cup 2019 final soccer match between USA and Netherlands in Lyon, France, 07 July 2019. EPA/SRDJAN SUKI SRDJAN SUKI EPA Women's World Cup final player ratings Lieke Martens - 6 LYON, FRANCE - JULY 07: Lieke Martens of the Netherlands reacts during a pitch inspection prior to the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup France Final match between The United States of America and The Netherlands at Stade de Lyon on July 07, 2019 in Lyon, France. (Photo by Naomi Baker - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images) Naomi Baker - FIFA FIFA via Getty Images Women's World Cup final player ratings Lineth Beerensteyn - 7 Netherlands' Lineth Beerensteyn gestures during the Women's World Cup final soccer match between US and The Netherlands at the Stade de Lyon in Decines, outside Lyon, France, Sunday, July 7, 2019. (AP Photo/Francois Mori) Francois Mori AP

The incessant controversy – manufactured or otherwise – that surrounds this team is unlikely to subside. That open invitation to the White House still requires a response. But that sideshow and others risk drowning out the wider significance of this win, one which may yet be the defining legacy of this World Cup.

It should not be forgotten that this group of women entered the tournament in a legal dispute with their federation, demanding parity with their less successful male counterparts. Success in France or otherwise should never have been a deciding factor in that, but when chants of “equal pay” followed the trophy lift, you felt this could make a historic difference.

Those issues have been overshadowed of late by the ‘arrogance’ debate, and it coloured the build-up to this final. Danielle van de Donk, the Netherlands midfielder, knew where she stood. “’They’re basically already congratulating us on finishing in second place,” she said. “I don’t think they think we’re that good.”

Rapinoe scored from the spot (AFP/Getty Images)

That may have been the case, it may not. Van de Donk and her Dutch team-mates were determined to show their opponents that, if not good, they were at least tough. The initial stages were punishing on the Americans, and it started with a blunt, early refusal to stop play when Morgan was down hurt.

Van de Donk was then one of several Dutch players to leave a foot in late on an opponent. Her forceful challenge on Julie Ertz was quickly followed by Sherida Spitse’s lash on Lavelle’s ankle. Even their goal-poaching striker, Vivianne Miedema, even felt it necessary to rap Ertz’s legs off-the-ball.

This aggression was combined with a drilled and disciplined defensive unit, allowing little space in behind. It made the opening 45 minutes hard work for the defending champions. The US’s first shot on target – a wild, instinctive volley by Ertz – took nearly half an hour to arrive.

Rapinoe celebrated her opening goal (REUTERS)

It was only at the half’s close that goalkeeper Sari Van Veenendaal was truly tested. And how. In the space of a minute, two Rapinoe crosses created two opportunities. Van Veenendaal stopped the goal-bound Sam Mewis header with her midriff and turned a Morgan flick against the post.

Van Veenendaal was later named the goalkeeper of the tournament: a fact which made her non-attempt to save the penalty all the more puzzling. It was awarded by VAR, though not controversially, as anyone who witnessed the replay of Van der Gragt’s high kick on Morgan would agree.

Rapinoe, who had looked off-the-pace up until this point, casually stroked the ball into the bottom right-hand corner. Van Veenendaal was perhaps too mindful of keeping at least one foot on her goal-line. Except for two short steps forward, she barely moved, practically watching the penalty run past her.

Lavelle fired in a second (AP)

Suddenly, that Dutch discipline and shape that had held so well disintegrated. The US were now slipping in behind at will. Eight minutes after Rapinoe’s penalty came the moment for which this game will be remembered and the highlight in the young career of midfielder Rose Lavelle.

Lavelle has enjoyed a remarkable tournament, though never a moment quite like this. Taking up possession close to the halfway line, she proceeded towards goal unchallenged. The orange shirts in front kept on backing off and backing off, inviting her eventually to shimmy left and drill a low shot into the corner.