You knew it was bad. When Leah Williamson went down inside the 11th minute of Arsenal’s game against Manchester United this week — already signalling for the medical team, her hand slamming the grass, head buried deep into her arms — it was clear this was not going to be good news.
The England captain will miss this summer’s World Cup having suffered an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury. That sentence leaves you feeling empty and distraught simultaneously. To say it is unbelievably cruel on Williamson is an understatement. To say it is a huge blow to her club and country is stating the obvious.
In her Instagram post yesterday, Williamson said: “Unfortunately the World Cup and Champions League dream is over for me and everyone will think that’s the main focus, but it’s the day-to-day of what I’m about to go through that is the most draining of my thoughts. I had my tears and made my peace with it the night it happened and since then I have been following the steps I’m told to, in order to best help myself in the short and long term.”
“She would be a huge miss. There’s no denying that.” England’s No 1, Mary Earps, told The Athletic.
Leah Williamson captained the Lionesses to their first UEFA Women’s European Championship in July…
