England's Euro 2022 title success had boosted confidence over Sarina Wiegman's side being able to challenge for a World Cup crown in Australia and New Zealand in 2023.
However, despite the positivity over the Lionesses making a big impact Down Under, Wiegman's plans have been thrown into chaos due to an ongoing injury crisis in her squad.
Key players from the Euro 2022 final were confirmed to miss out on World Cup duty in 2023 after suffering late-season injuries in the final weeks of a gruelling 2021/22 WSL domestic campaign. Then,
Injury setbacks are always part of tournament planning, but Wiegman will now be forced to significantly readjust with starting players frustratingly missing out on the competition.
England's 2023 World Cup squad injury latest
As the domestic season wraps up in England, Wiegman has confirmed captain Leah Williamson and key forward Fran Kirby both missed out on a World Cup place, as they both required surgery on ACL injuries to their knees.
Beth Mead's fitness chances were rated as doubtful as she joins Williamson on a growing list of knee injuries this season, with the signs not looking positive for the Arsenal striker coming into the tournament, and that was confirmed as she was not ready to earn a place in the squad.
Experienced defender Millie Bright also faced a race against time to be fit for the tournament, but Chelsea boss Emma Hayes confirmed the 29-year-old was on track to join up with the Lionesses, and she was named as part of the squad.
During England's second match of Group D play, midfielder Keira Walsh was stretchered off with what appeared to be a serious knee problem, and while tests have yet to confirm the extent of her injury, there's a general assumption that she is likely done for the tournament.
Fran Kirby
Kirby played a crucial role for England at Euro 2022 alongside Mead and in behind lone striker Ellen White as the tournament hosts sealed a major title success.
Chelsea had initially looked to manage her recovery from a knee issue, which was sustained in February, with the skilful forward omitted from England's Arnold Clark Cup squad that month.
The club had been working on a programme of rehabilitation and platelet-rich plasma injections to try to aid recovery, but after missing the FA Cup final and the Champions League semifinals, the Blues have opted for surgery.
❤️💙 pic.twitter.com/EYvSu8wF4W
— Fran Kirby (@frankirby) May 2, 2023
Leah Williamson
Williamson's case was more straightforward than Kirby or Mead after the England skipper suffered an ACL rupture in Arsenal's 1-0 WSL loss to Manchester United in April.
Her role as captain has been a crucial aspect of Wiegman's tenure and her absence will be sorely felt, with Alex Greenwood potentially moved inside to partner Bright in central defence.
Leah Williamson has issued a statement through Instagram. pic.twitter.com/G6PilEr0Rr
— AWFCLIPS (@awfclips) April 21, 2023
Beth Mead
Mead was sensational for England at Euro 2022, picking up the double award of Golden Boot and Player of the Tournament before suffering a similar injury to Williamson in November 2022.
The footwork. The finish.
— Lionesses (@Lionesses) May 9, 2023
Celebrating this @bmeado9 goal on her birthday. 😍 pic.twitter.com/cKAZ2kWvR9
The time frame of Mead's injury recovery means she is still in with a chance of making the World Cup squad, but Wiegman said they were left "needing a miracle" for her to be match fit in time.
Mead has offered fans some hope, stating how she is "ahead of schedule" in her rehabilitation, including light training at Arsenal, but despite her efforts she also conceded the World Cup "may be a little bit too soon for me."
Keira Walsh
In the 38th minute of England's match against Denmark at the Women's World Cup, Keira Walsh slid to meet a ball and got her leg awkwardly caught underneath her body.
She immediately gestured to the bench that she required a substitution and could not continue, and was stretchered off with her head in her hands.
While the coaching staff was pragmatic after the match, preferring to wait for tests to confirm a diagnosis rather than speculate what was wrong, others were less optimistic, and fears of a serious knee injury grew. Walsh herself appeared to say "I've done my knee" to teammates while being helped off the pitch.
It's generally assumed that Walsh has some kind of serious knee injury, likely an ACL tear. Even if there is some good news and her ACL is intact, it's still likely that a lesser ligament problem could require surgery and rule her out for the rest of the competition.
