Williamson's Determined Bid to Face Spain

For a glimpse into the significance of the England vs Spain match to the players, look no further than Leah Williamson. Despite not having played for almost a month, the Lionesses captain is leaving no stone unturned in her quest to be fit for the Wembley showdown on Tuesday, as evidenced by her double duty of private medical sessions and tactical preparations at St George's Park. The stakes are high, with only the top team in the four-nation group guaranteed a spot in the World Cup, making this match a potential decider for who heads to Brazil. If Williamson is not risked, the centre-back partnership may fall to two of England's most patient players, Lotte Wubben-Moy and Esme Morgan, who have been battling it out with Jess Carter, Alex Greenwood, and Maya Le Tissier for a starting spot. Both Wubben-Moy and Morgan have seen game-time in recent qualifiers, with Wubben-Moy, the ultimate squad player, having been an unused substitute in the 2023 World Cup and Euros campaigns, and Morgan having developed significantly since her move to Washington Spirit. Their potential start together in front of over 70,000 fans at Wembley would be a full-circle moment, given they were first called up in the same camp in 2020.