In a devastating blow for the Lionesses, England captain Leah Williamson has been ruled out of the upcoming World Cup and Euro 2025 qualifiers due to injury. The Arsenal defender, who recently returned from a nine-month layoff after rupturing her ACL, now faces another spell on the sidelines.
Double Blow for England's Defence
The 27-year-old centre-back's absence comes at a critical time for Sarina Wiegman's squad, who are preparing for crucial matches against Spain and Sweden next month. Williamson's leadership and defensive prowess will be sorely missed as England look to secure their place in both major tournaments.
Road to Recovery
Williamson only made her comeback in January after suffering the serious knee injury during a Women's Super League match last April. Her return to action had been carefully managed, with limited minutes for both club and country. This latest setback raises questions about her long-term fitness and the physical demands placed on elite female footballers.
Wiegman's Selection Headache
England manager Sarina Wiegman now faces a defensive crisis, with Millie Bright also currently unavailable. The Dutch coach may need to reshuffle her backline, potentially giving opportunities to less experienced players in these high-stakes qualifiers.
The Lionesses will be hoping Williamson can make a full recovery in time for the latter stages of the Euro 2025 qualifying campaign, should England progress. Her leadership both on and off the pitch has been instrumental in England's recent successes, including their historic Euro 2022 triumph.
