How shrewd adaptation and unbreakable sisterhood can drive England Women’s World Cup run

Usually, when a team loses the bulk of their spine, the white flag is already half-raised whether the team knows it or not. England entered the World Cup without their captain Leah Williamson, who guided them to their first ever major trophy last summer. Before they’d even stepped onto the plane, the Lionesses had been wounded.

Then came the dreaded moment that dropped a heavy blanket of silence over the fans. Keira Walsh, a woman with fearlessness in her veins, went down against Denmark with an injury. The Barcelona star knew right away something was wrong and so did the rest of the world. After being stretchered off the pitch and appearing again towards the end of the match on crutches, fans feared the worst — those dreaded three letters that have already forced an alarming amount of players to miss this World Cup.

Luckily, scans revealed Walsh had not damaged her ACL, but the likelihood of her continuing at the tournament remains unclear. England ruled her out of their final group stage clash against China and worry started to creep up on the fans. Sarina Wiegman herself admitted that during Euro 2022, there was ‘no plan B’ for them if something happened to Walsh.

The wounded Lionesses, who had already been limping through the group stage as it was, were now being hawked by the rest of the world. Had the European champions become prey? There was a lot riding on their meeting with China and they needed to make a statement.

And make a statement they did.

A rallying cry for those who were missing out due to injury — Williamson, Walsh, Beth Mead, Fran Kirby — echoed around Hindmarsh Stadium as England put in a show-stopping statement performance against the Steel Roses. Lauren James, the star girl of the Lionesses this tournament, dropped probably the display of her career by getting involved in five of her side’s six goals.

James was far from a hidden gem when she arrived in Australia but after her blistering two-goal, three-assist performance against China, the whole world will now know who she is and what she’s capable of. The Chelsea star may be competing in her maiden World Cup but she is treating it like a training ground session. She has three goals in the tournament so far — having come up clutch against Denmark with their only goal of the match — and every strike has been an eye-popper.

Wiegman, the Lionesses, and their fans will certainly be feeling blessed to have James pulling the strings in their attack as they fight to bring football home once again but the biggest celebration so far is England’s ‘never say die’ attitude.

When Wiegman, who is not one to stray too much from her usual tactics, opted for a whole formation switch-up against China, a beacon of hope was lit. The resilience and sense of togetherness this Lionesses side is showcasing could well be what drives them all the way to the World Cup final.

Walsh, the one player the manager herself essentially admitted was irreplaceable, is out of the picture right now. Instead of panic, England have quickly adapted and a plan B has been almost freestyled.

Sometimes it takes unexpected blows like the injury to Walsh to really show what a team is made of. England could not afford to panic or arrive unprepared. In just four days, the Lionesses put together a whole new game-plan and executed it like it was always supposed to be this way. The sisterhood and the love between these England players will have undoubtedly also lit a fire to get the results for their injured teammates. They may be without them, but they’re doing it for them. That is the stature and the mindset of a title-winning side.