England's women's football team has been dealt a major blow as captain Leah Williamson sustains an ankle injury, potentially sidelining her for the upcoming Euro 2025 qualifiers. The Arsenal defender, who led the Lionesses to European glory in 2022, suffered the setback during a recent training session.
Sarina Wiegman's squad now faces an anxious wait to determine the severity of Williamson's injury. Medical staff are closely monitoring her recovery, but initial assessments suggest she could miss crucial matches in England's title defence campaign.
Defensive Dilemma for Lionesses
Williamson's potential absence creates significant challenges for England's backline. Her leadership and defensive prowess were instrumental in the team's Euro 2022 triumph, and finding adequate cover presents Wiegman with her first major selection headache of the qualification period.
The 27-year-old centre-back has become synonymous with England's recent success, marshalling a defence that conceded just two goals throughout the entire 2022 tournament. Her potential unavailability comes at a particularly inopportune moment as England prepare to face formidable opponents in their qualifying group.
Road to Euro 2025
With qualification matches looming, the timing of Williamson's injury couldn't be worse. England begin their campaign next month, aiming to secure passage to the tournament in Switzerland. The Football Association has yet to confirm whether Williamson will require surgery, but sources suggest the medical team are exploring all conservative treatment options first.
Should Williamson miss significant playing time, Chelsea's Millie Bright appears the most likely candidate to assume the captain's armband. However, Wiegman may need to reshape her defensive strategy entirely, potentially accelerating the integration of younger players into the senior setup.
