England captain Leah Williamson out of Women’s World Cup

England captain Leah Williamson has stated her “World Cup and Champions League dream is over” after scans confirmed she suffered a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament (ACL).

The information will come as a big setback for England’s World Cup hopes given Williamson was set to guide the Lionesses into this summer time’s match.

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Williamson captained England to their historic Euro 2022 triumph and has established herself as an instrumental half of Sarina Wiegman’s staff within the coronary heart of defence, however the knee damage she sustained whereas enjoying for Arsenal at Manchester United on Wednesday has dominated her out for the 2023 Women’s World Cup.

“Until I have the words to express my feelings properly I will struggle to verbalise them. The noise around the situation is loud and I need some quiet to let it all sink in,” she wrote in an Instagram post on Friday.

“Unfortunately the World Cup and Champions League dream is over for me and everyone will think that’s the main focus, but it’s the day to day of what I’m going through that’s the most draining of my thoughts.

“I had tears in my eyes and made peace with it the night time it occurred and since then I’ve been following the steps I’m instructed to so as to greatest assist myself within the quick and long run.

“Ultimately, I think it’s just my time. In the past couple of years alone I have watched teammates beat serious illnesses and adversity with the biggest of smiles on their faces. I also had the perspective that globally there are much greater difficulties and therefore my circumstances right now are just that, circumstantial, and I’ve seen a lot worse.

“I have not had a day since final October when I’ve walked on to the pitch and not using a bodily or psychological mark over me, and that is skilled sports activities. So now I’ve to hearken to my physique, give it what it wants and if every part occurs for a motive, then we’ll see what street this flip sends me down.

“I have given and will continue to give everything my body, mind and heart possibly has to Arsenal and Lionesses, I will still be there through thick and thin for all my teammates and their biggest supporter. I feel your love and support, so thank you! All I ask is for a little bit of time and space to deal with all that is to come.”

Williamson picked up the damage within the fifteenth minute of the match as she tussled with Katie Zelem for the ball. There was minimal contact however Williamson landed awkwardly on her proper leg.

Arsenal said in a statement: “Leah will now begin a period of rehabilitation and is set for an extended spell on the sidelines. She will undergo surgery in due course.

“Everyone at Arsenal can be supporting Leah carefully all through the journey forward and we’d ask that her privateness is revered right now.”

With Williamson absent, England will need to appoint a new captain for this summer’s tournament with her defensive partner Millie Bright expected to be a front-runner for the role. But Bright is also sidelined with a knee problem as Wiegman deals with what is threatening to descend into an injury crisis ahead of the tournament.

Euro 2022 Player of the Tournament Mead needs a “miracle” to be match to play within the World Cup, in response to Wiegman, as she continues her restoration from an ACL damage she picked up in December. Alongside Bright, her Chelsea teammate Fran Kirby can be recovering from a knee damage she sustained in January.

So whereas England stay hopeful each Bright and Kirby can be match, the information of Williamson’s damage means they are going to look set to be with out two of their major stars on the World Cup. With Jill Scott and Ellen White each retiring post-Euros, it is going to be a new-look England facet heading to Australia only a yr after they received the Euros.

Williamson’s damage means England would require a brand new partnership on the coronary heart of their defence. She partnered Bright by the Euros so one choice could possibly be to shift Alex Greenwood to centre-back, or Wiegman might look to Esme Morgan who began in England’s 2-0 defeat towards Australia in Bright’s absence.

While they produce other choices like Lotte Wubben-Moy it might additionally open the door for a return for Steph Houghton, England’s former captain who’s but to characteristic underneath Wiegman.