Keira Walsh's Heart-stopping Injury Moment Shakes Women's World Cup: Will England Midfielder's Dream Shatter?
Keira Walsh's devastating knee injury during England's World Cup clash with Denmark puts her personal achievements at risk The Lionesses were leading at halftime thanks to Lauren James' goal at Allianz Stadium
England's chances of winning the Women's World Cup were dealt a blow on Friday as Keira Walsh was stretchered off the field with a potentially serious knee injury during the Group D match against Denmark. The 26-year-old defensive midfielder, who played a crucial role in England's victory at the Euros last year, collapsed on the Sydney Football Stadium pitch without any contact in the 38th minute and immediately signaled for medical help.
After a long wait, Walsh exited the field with a despondent expression, being carried on a stretcher, and Laura Coombs took her place.
Having transferred from Manchester City to the renowned Barcelona last year, Walsh set a new world record with a staggering fee estimated at $470,000 (£367,000). Impressively, she achieved a remarkable feat in her inaugural season in Spain, clinching both the Liga F and the Champions League titles.
England, who won their first tournament match against Haiti with a score of 1-0, were in the lead against Denmark by 1-0 when Walsh had to leave the game. This was due to Lauren James scoring a goal in the sixth minute.
While celebrating James' goal, the midfielder tried to perform a knee slide but ended up slipping in the corner, exposing the dryness of the pitch at the Allianz Stadium.
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Walsh's anguish with personal treble in jeopardy
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Keira Walsh seems to have suffered a significant injury.
Prior to the Denmark match, Walsh mentioned that the idea of achieving a personal trifecta of trophies by winning the World Cup had hardly crossed her thoughts.
Following her triumph in England's Euro 2022 and being named player-of-the-match in the final, the midfielder made a move to Barcelona. Alongside her fellow Lioness Lucy Bronze, she achieved Champions League glory in June. If she secures her place in the Sydney final on August 20th, it would be the perfect ending to an incredible 13-month period for Rochdale native Walsh. Joining the Spanish side in September for a fee believed to be a world record, she has had an extraordinary run.
She said: "It's not something I've thought about but it would be pretty exciting.
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Walsh was injured during the first half of England's Women's World Cup match against Denmark
Upon moving to Barcelona, I initially felt a sense of apprehension. The midfield in this environment seemed a bit overwhelming, to be honest. However, they were all incredibly supportive and I don't actively engage in social media to be affected by any negativity. My approach is to take each game as it comes and simply relish the joy of playing without concerning myself too much with external matters.
After accomplishing the remarkable feat of winning both the Euros and the Champions League within a year, it is crucial to pause and reflect on the magnitude of the achievement, rather than merely analyzing it. Allowing oneself to fully absorb and appreciate such a thrilling accomplishment before setting sights on the upcoming World Cup adds to the excitement.
