To understand the significance of the England vs Spain match for the players, look no further than Leah Williamson's unwavering dedication. Despite being sidelined for nearly a month, the Lionesses captain is pushing her limits to ensure she's fit to lead her team at Wembley on Tuesday.
If the world champions weren't visiting, Williamson's chances of starting would be slim, given the plethora of crucial games ahead for both club and country. However, she's been working tirelessly with the medical team and participating in 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 defining moment for who will travel to Brazil. Williamson's determination to participate is undeniable.
If she's not risked, the centre-back partnership may fall to 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, having both seen game-time during recent qualifiers.
Wubben-Moy has been the epitome of a squad player, often an unused substitute, but has been analyzing her performances and physical fitness closely with her partner Tao Geoghan-Hart. Her perspective on the game is unique, and she's been involved in community work, which was evident when players from her foundation attended her training session last week. Morgan's journey to becoming a starting centre-back has been different; she took a significant career risk by moving to Washington Spirit from Manchester City, but it has paid off, with her developing massively and contributing to her club's back-to-back NWSL Championship games. If Morgan and Wubben-Moy line up together at Wembley, it would be a full-circle moment, given they were first called up in the same camp in 2020.
They've spent many hours on the bench together, and now they may become England's most crucial players as they face the world's number one ranked nation.