Euro 2022: Crunching England’s numbers including Leah Williamson’s Paolo Maldini trait

07/28/2022

Sarina Wiegman clearly has enormous faith in her captain, however, as Williamson is the only outfield player to have stayed on the pitch for every minute of England’s run.

Williamson is a vital cog in the England machine offensively as well as defensively.

The Lionesses have enjoyed the second-highest share of possession behind Spain (58 per cent), with Williamson contributing to their style of play under Wiegman.

The 25-year-old – who started her career as a midfielder and only switched to central defence shortly before her England debut – has completed 411 passes in five matches so far, the most of any player at the tournament.

Just as Williamson and Bright have shone for England in defence, the likes of Beth Mead, Alessia Russo and Fran Kirby are excelling in attack.

The Lionesses are comfortably the highest scorers at the tournament with 20 goals, ahead of Germany on 13.

Eight different players have got their names on the scoresheet – also a tournament high.

Among them is joint-top scorer Mead, who has six goals from six shots on target so far at Euro 2022. She is tied with Germany’s Alexandra Popp in the race for the Golden Boot, with teammate Russo – scorer of an audacious backheel in the semi-final against Sweden – still in contention on four goals.

Euro 2022: Crunching England’s numbers including Leah Williamson’s Paolo Maldini trait

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