At FC Barcelona she sets the pace in midfield. On Sunday (08/20/2023, 12 p.m. CEST, in the live ticker at sportschau.de) Keira Walsh has nothing left for her Spanish adopted country. She wants to be world champion with England. Just like her teammate Lucy Bronze, who also laces the shoes for “Barca” in everyday club life.
It was a good half hour into the game against Denmark when all the fans of the England women’s team caught their breath: Keira Walsh was unlucky and got caught on the pitch and fell to the ground. Her desperate rowing with her arms made one fear the worst.
After all, with Leah Williamson, Beth Mead and Ellie Brazil, England had already lost three important players to cruciate ligament tears before the World Cup. Fran Kirby had to sit out with another knee injury.
But with midfielder Walsh, there was a collective sigh of relief: the next day, the English Football Association reported that fears of a cruciate ligament rupture had not been confirmed. The 26-year-old, who is so valuable with her tactical sophistication, is only out for the third group game against China, after that we’ll see.
White: “The whole game is about her”
Walsh is undoubtedly one of the best midfielders in the world and can read the game inimitable – as ex-teammate Ellen White recently explained. “The whole game is about her,” said the English record scorer of the “BBC”, adding: “I don’t know who could replace her. There is no plan B.”
In fact, Walsh was back in the round of 16 against Nigeria (winning on penalties) and also started England’s quarter-finals and semi-finals. As inconspicuous as Walsh acts on the field, she is important to her teams. It’s no coincidence that England won the European Championship with her last year and FC Barcelona won the Champions League with her this summer.
FC Barcelona: Walsh and bronze in a double pack
It was not without consideration that Barcelona put a world record fee for Walsh on the table before the past season in order to get the central player: 400,000 pounds (a good 460,000 euros) flowed from Barcelona to Manchester City’s account shortly before the transfer ended.
“Barca” had paid a little less for signing Lucy Bronze (also from Manchester City) a few weeks earlier. The investment paid off: the signing of Walsh after the transfer of Bronze is seen in Barcelona as a crucial piece of the puzzle for the triumph in the “Queen’s Class”.
Spain – nine times FC Barcelona
In the World Cup final Spain it is now also against a large part of their club team. Nine of Walsh’s Barcelona team-mates feature in the Spain squad, including the eye-catching midfielders Alexia Putellas and Aitana Bonmati. But Walsh said in Thursday’s press conference that England should be confident. In the match, it is important to support the in-form strikers from midfield as best as possible and to bring them into play.
“I think a lot of people say the game is won and lost in midfield,” she explained. “But we also have some huge talent there.” She named Georgia Stanway (Bayern), Ella Toone (Manchester United) and Lauren James (Chelsea) who will be available again for England in the final following their red card.
Australia’s Sam Kerr down – Walsh on top
Walsh: “I can imagine Sarina asking”
Of course, it is only natural that England coach Sarina Wiegman will want to use her players’ specialist knowledge of their opponents. Also believes Walsh: “I can imagine that Sarina will ask for advice.” However, knowledge does not only flow in one direction. “The Spanish know about me and Lucy, so it works both ways.”
Walsh believes: “The Barcelona girls are obviously incredible players and I’m sure whatever I say they will probably come up with something different because they are very special players.”