Keira Walsh is absent as expected for England for their final Women’s World Cup group game against China today.
The Lionesses need only a point to make it into the knockout phase of the competition after winning their opening two games 1-0.
But they will have to do it without the services of influential midfielder Walsh, who suffered a worrying-looking knee injury during the first half of Friday’s tense win over the Danes in Sydney.
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The Barcelona playmaker was stretchered off in a major blow to England’s hopes of adding global glory to their fairytale first European triumph, though it later emerged that she had avoided following the likes of Beth Mead and Leah Williamson and thankfully not suffered an injury to her anterior cruciate ligament.
Though Walsh was initially feared lost for the remainder of the World Cup, she has remained with the squad in Australia for her recovery and manager Sarina Wiegman has so far refused to say if she could yet play a part in the knockout stages.
Georgia Stanway is ready to step up for England in the absence of Walsh, while Katie Zelem comes into the midfield for a rare start.
Manchester City’s Lauren Hemp comes into the attack Ella Toone, with Lauren James also in the side and both Alessia Russo and Rachel Daly handed starts in forward areas.
If England were to avoid a shock defeat against China and top the group, then Group B runners-up Nigeria will be next up in Brisbane next Monday. If they slip up, then it’s co-hosts Australia in the last 16 in Sydney.
England XI: Earps, Bronze, Greenwood, Bright, Carter, Stanway, Zelem, James, Hemp, Russo, Daly.
Time and date: 12pm BST on Tuesday August 1, 2023
Venue: Hindmarsh Stadium in Adelaide, Australia
