Graham Ruthven: The Women’s World Cup could launch Keira Walsh to superstardom

ICONS were made as England won Euro 2022. Beth Mead won the Golden Boot with a record-equalling six goals across the tournament. Georgia Stanway netted a stunning long-range strike to beat Spain in the quarter-finals. Then there was Chloe Kelly who delivered the decisive moment in the final against Germany, and celebrated by running around Wembley in her sports bra. 

Keira Walsh didn’t catch the eye in the same way, but the 26-year-old was integral to the Lionesses’ triumph 12 months ago. Without Walsh, England wouldn’t have been able to suffocate opponents with the ball in the same way. It was therefore unsurprising when Barcelona paid a world-record fee to sign her.

The 2023 Women’s World Cup gives Walsh a chance to show how she has taken her game to an even higher level since making the move to the Camp Nou. Some of England’s best players – like Mead, Frank Kirby and Leah Williamson – are absent in Australia and New Zealand, but the Lionesses still have their midfield metronome.

Sarina Wiegman has a number of difficult decisions to make before England’s World Cup opener against Haiti on Saturday. She has to settle on a starting number nine with Rachel Daly and Alessia Russo both putting forward a strong case. The Dutch coach must also settle on a defensive partner for Millie Bright with Williamson injured.

In the middle of the pitch, though, Walsh will be one of the first names on the team sheet. Wiegman is renowned for picking a team and sticking with it all the way through a tournament – the England used the same starting lineup in every Euro 2022 match – and so it’s possible, even likely, Walsh will start every World Cup match this summer.

Kiera Walsh named Player of the Match in the Women's Finalissima.

She's so so good. pic.twitter.com/YK4FidAipD

— 𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐑𝐋𝐄𝐒 (@ChaaliiyKay) April 6, 2023

With Stanway and Ella Toone both attack-minded in their focus, Walsh will be asked to maintain the structure of England’s entire midfield. A lesser player would struggle with this job, but the 26-year-old performed this role for Barcelona as they won the Women’s Champions League and Treble last season. Walsh is special.

She has always been good with the ball at her feet. Eight years at Manchester City clearly helped Walsh hone her technical skills. At Barcelona, though, the midfielder has gained increased positional awareness and appreciation of space. Walsh always knows where she should be on the pitch at any given time.

Walsh hasn’t always operated at this level. She faced criticism following the 2019 Women’s World Cup with many arguing the Rochdale-born youngster – only 22 at the time – wasn’t ready to occupy such a key position for England. Walsh, however, continued to learn. She pushed herself at every opportunity.

This process led her to Barcelona where Walsh has been forced outside of her comfort zone. She is now a better player for having done this, as the 26-year-old herself asserts. “There were times at first where I probably missed opportunities to play forward and find the forward players,” she explained.

“At City they would stand and wait in the pocket whereas at Barcelona they don’t, so you always have to be checking your shoulder, thinking forward, thinking ahead before you’ve even got the ball as to where the player’s going to be. It is such fast play but towards the end of the season I kind of got to grips with that a little bit.”

If England go all the way this summer and win the Women’s World Cup for the first time in the Lionesses’ history, Walsh will have surely played an important role just as she did for Barcelona as they won three trophies last season. Maybe then the midfielder will receive the recognition she so clearly deserves.