17 August 2023 , 11:00
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Playmaker Keira Walsh is relishing a midfield battle that could decide the fate of England’s first World Cup final.
The Lionesses are chasing a historic double after their superb performance in a 3-1 win over Australia in Sydney. Now the only team standing in their way is Spain, who dramatically beat Sweden in the other semi-final on Tuesday
Nine of Walsh’s Barcelona teammates feature in the Spain squad, including influential midfielders Alexia Putellas and Aitana Bonmati. But Walsh says England should be confident of assisting their in-form forwards.
“I think a lot of people say that is where the game is won and lost in midfield," she explained. "But we have also got some massive talent in there, with Georgia, Tooney (Ella Toone) and LJ (Lauren James)
“It will be a really interesting game, but I think the way we setup now we can see that the front-two are really exciting, and they have scored some crucial goals for us. Hempo is on fire at the minute. For us it is just really exciting where the attacking players are going at this moment.”
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Like Walsh, full-back Lucy Bronze is also at Barcelona, having won the Champions League and Spanish title last season. Although the pair have the inside track on her club teammates, the former Man City playmaker wants England to play their own game, rather than just focusing on stopping Spain.
"I imagine Sarina will (ask for advice),” added Walsh. “But then the girls know about me and Lucy, so it works both ways.
“The Barcelona girls are obviously unbelievable players and I am sure whatever I say, they will probably come up with something different because they are very special players.
“But we have got full belief in ourselves and what we can do. Looking forward to it. They are a great team. They have got some world-class players, but again we are looking forward to it.
Barcelona won the European Cup with Walsh and Bronze in the side last season (Photo by Joris Verwijst/BSR Agency/Getty Images)“It’s a challenge that we have faced before and hopefully it will be a good game on Sunday. We have full respect for Spain, they are an unbelievable team.”
Walsh has featured in five of England's six games on the road to the final. She was substituted in the 1-0 win over Denmark with a knee injury, which meant she missed the 6-1 thrashing of China in the final group game.
But she has since made a full recovery and will be one of the first names on Wiegman's teamsheet for Sunday's final.