Williamson's Determined Bid to Face Spain

To understand the significance of the England vs Spain match for the players, one needs to look no further than Leah Williamson. Despite not having played for almost a month, the Lionesses captain is going to great lengths to prove her fitness and lead her team at Wembley on Tuesday. If the world champions were not visiting, it is unlikely that Williamson would be considered for the starting lineup, given the numerous crucial games for both club and country in the next two months. However, the Arsenal centre-back has been working tirelessly with the medical team and participating in all tactical preparations at St George's Park. The stakes are high, as only the team topping the four-nation group is guaranteed a spot in the World Cup, making this match a potential decider for who will go to Brazil. Williamson is not one to back down from a challenge. If she is not risked, the centre-back partnership could be comprised of two of England's most patient players. Lotte Wubben-Moy and Esme Morgan are vying for a spot alongside Jess Carter, Alex Greenwood, and Maya Le Tissier, but both have seen game-time during recent qualifiers. Wubben-Moy has been the ultimate squad player, with limited appearances since her first call-up almost six years ago, mostly against nations England were expected to defeat. The 27-year-old has admitted to having doubts throughout her international career but has a unique perspective on the game. She has been working closely with her partner Tao Geoghan-Hart to analyze her performances and optimize her physical fitness. Wubben-Moy also keeps the demands of football in perspective through her community work, as seen when players from her foundation visited her at training last week. Morgan's journey to becoming a starting centre-back has been different. After being starved of minutes at Manchester City, she took a significant risk by moving to Washington Spirit, which has paid off. Morgan has developed substantially since moving to the US and has played a crucial role in her club's consecutive NWSL Championship games. If Morgan and Wubben-Moy were to start together at Wembley, it would be a full-circle moment, given they were first called up in the same camp in 2020. Having spent many hours on the bench together, England's most patient players may now be their most critical as they face the world's number one ranked nation.