Williamson's ruptured ACL leaves England hopes hanging by a thread

KATHRYN BATTE: Leah Williamson’s ruptured ACL leaves England’s World Cup hopes hanging by a thread… losing the calm and composed captain is DEVASTATING – and with Millie Bright and Lucy Bronze injured, Lionesses desperately need a Plan B

• Leah Williamson suffered a ruptured ACL playing for Arsenal against Man United
• The England captain has already been ruled out of the 2023 World Cup in July 
• Four of England’s starting line-up from the Euros final are out with knee injuries

Every England fan had hoped for a miracle, that when Leah Williamson went down in agony the injury was not as bad as first feared.

They hoped it was not the issue that has plagued the women’s game for over a decade, that it was not the worst case scenario. But it was – and now the Lionesses’ World Cup hopes hang in the balance.

That is one consequence of Williamson’s serious knee injury. The over-riding feeling on Friday night, though, was one of devastation for the England captain, who has been robbed of the chance to lead her country into a tournament they had looked favourites to win.

At 26, Williamson is in her prime and in the last year has become one of the biggest faces of women’s football. This felt like her World Cup, her moment. England will be weaker without her, of that there is no doubt.

‘Until I have the words to express my feelings properly, I will struggle to verbalise them,’ Williamson said. ‘The noise around the situation is loud and I need some quiet to let it all sink in.’

Leah Williamson lasted just 12 minutes of Arsenal’s WSL game against Manchester United

The England captain went down in agony at Leigh Sports Village with a suspected knee injury 

The skipper was confirmed to have suffered an ACL injury and will miss the World Cup in July

Somewhere in Holland, boss Sarina Wiegman is drawing up her Plan B. She is a manager prepared for most things, but would not have envisaged going into a tournament without her captain.

Williamson is England’s calm and composed leader. Her absence will have a psychological impact on the team. She is one of the best passers in the defence and could have played in midfield, should there have been an injury to Kiera Walsh or Georgia Stanway.

Worryingly, Williamson may not be the only star from the Euros to miss the World Cup. Arsenal team-mate Beth Mead suffered the same injury in November and is unlikely to be fit in time. Mead spoke out about the need for more research after winning the BBC’s Sports Personality of the Year.

There have long been calls for further studies into why women are more susceptible to the injury than men, with five of the top 16 players in October’s Ballon d’Or vote sidelined by the same issue.

When the FA conducted their own research into the prevalence of ACL injuries in women’s football over the last four seasons, they found they accounted for just 1.3 per cent of all issues.

But with Williamson now the 11th player in the Women’s Super League to suffer the same fate, there is surely more that can be done to help limit the risk factors.

Fran Kirby and Millie Bright are another two players currently out with knee injuries. The time-frame for Kirby is unknown but she has been having injections since February.

There is more optimism over vice-captain Bright, who had a ‘clear out’ of her knee cartilage this month. Chelsea boss Emma Hayes said she will be out for ‘weeks’ but could not say how many.

Four of England’s starting line-up from the Euros final are currently sidelined with knee injuries

Chelsea pair Mille Bright and Fran Kirby have both been nursing knee injuries in recent weeks

Arsenal’s Beth Mead also suffered an ACL injury while in WSL action back in November

The worst case scenario, that all four miss the World Cup, would mean England would be without five of their starters from every game at the Euros, with Ellen White now retired.

Given the Lionesses have already lost one centre back, Bright’s fitness is the biggest priority.

England’s defence looked weak without her in games against Brazil and Australia and it will be hoped she does indeed recover quickly.

Should that be the case, the obvious replacement for Williamson is Manchester City’s Alex Greenwood.

Bright and Greenwood is a combination that has been tried and tested. The problem, though, is that Greenwood would have been set to start at left back.

Rachel Daly played in that position during the Euros but is a natural striker and it seemed Wiegman had decided she should now be classed as a forward.

Williamson’s injury may change that. Daly could revert to left back and it would not be the end of the world. She has played that position many times in her career. The only concern is that she has not done so this season.

The other option is Chelsea’s Jess Carter, who started both games there during the last international camp. But she too is not a natural left back and was exposed at times in each match.

If only Gareth Southgate could donate one of the many full backs he has to choose from.

Sarina Wiegman faces an injury crisis ahead of the World Cup in July and August

England can’t afford to lose any other defenders in the build up to this summer’s World Cup 

Williamson’s injury certainly strengthens the case for bringing former England captain Steph Houghton back into the fold.

She has tournament experience, is in good form and has played many games alongside Bright and Greenwood.

But it seems unlikely Wiegman will turn to her, given the pair’s relationship has been fractured ever since Houghton was left out of the Euros squad.

The defender spoke out earlier this month, claiming every conversation she’d had with Wiegman had been ‘negative’, but insisted she had not given up hope of making the World Cup.

The other centre backs in the last England squad were Maya Le Tissier, Lucy Parker and Esme Morgan, while Lotte Wubben-Moy was a late call-up.

All four are young and lack experience, with just 15 caps between them. Le Tissier is having the best season but has just two senior England appearances to her name. To throw her or any of the other three players into a World Cup match would be a risk.

England are predicted to face familiar foes Germany in the quarter-final of the World Cup

England’s route to the final looked tricky before their injury crisis — it now looks even more challenging.

Germany may be the biggest benefactors, given it is likely they would be the Lionesses’ quarter-final opponents should they get that far. Williamson’s injury is devastating, but all is not lost. England can still field a strong starting XI without her, but cannot afford any more injuries.

Wiegman said after her first defeat as manager that she is not somebody who worries easily. It is natural for English football fans to panic. Wiegman will not.

The task is greater than it was before, but not impossible. Losing Williamson hurts but England must believe they can adapt, overcome and go on without her.

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