England World Cup chances battered by Walsh blow as Wiegman faces biggest test yet

We wanted to write about how England had failed to score an open play goal in 342 minutes but then Lauren James happened.

We wanted to write about how England coach Sarina Wiegman – famously reluctant to change her starting line-up during that triumphant Euros run – made two massive calls, bringing in Rachel Daly and James, and was rewarded with a rejuvenated left side.

We wanted to write about how Daly provided the width as James interchanged with Ella Toone in more central areas.

We wanted to write about how Daly is playing in exactly the right position despite the cognitive dissonance of the No. 9 on her back.

But it’s impossible not to have watched England beat Denmark with a marginally better performance than the flabby, stilted 90 minutes they produced against Haiti in the opening game of the World Cup and not focus on the injury suffered to Keira Walsh.

England had already been cursed in the build-up to this tournament, losing Leah Williamson, Fran Kirby and Beth Mead to serious injury. Allied with Ellen White’s retirement, they were already four players down from the team that won the European Championship a year ago.

But in Alex Greenwood, James and Chloe Kelly, England have replacements of real quality, while Alessia Russo is a natural heir to White, though England certainly missed her willingness to chase down lost causes.

There is no replacement for Walsh, the best defensive midfielder in women’s football, England’s player of the match from the Euro 2022 final and the heartbeat of this side.

As soon as she left the pitch – after heart-breaking seconds when she swiftly indicated that the game and possibly the tournament were over for her – an electric England performance lost some of its heat. England looked scared, a little sloppy and very vulnerable to Denmark counter-attacks.

England did enough to win this game – barely, they got slower and sloppier as the time ticked down – but their chances of winning the tournament have been severely battered by any injury to Walsh. Perhaps only the supreme Mary Earps would be equally missed by Wiegman.

Laura Coombs is an able deputy but you need more than an able deputy at the base of midfield against Germany, Spain or the United States. It was only marginally enough against Denmark, who were allowed to lay siege to England’s goal in the final minutes.

Tournaments are not won in the group stages of major tournaments – and getting six points and two clean sheets on the board from two games would be welcomed by most – but it’s difficult to see an already-flawed England team shorn of Walsh repeating last year’s heroics.

But Wiegman acted to fix the left-sided issues that made England look flat-footed in their opening game and she has certainly earned the faith England must place in her to fix this problem. Over to you, Sarina.