England’s squad at the European Championships contains a number of players at their first major international tournament and Leah Williamson is one of the experienced stars showing them the ropes
Leah Williamson is ready to lead by example as one of the senior stars in an England squad packed with young talent – but she thinks the next generation are already ahead of the curve.
The Lionesses have lost some key players in the lead-up to this summer’s European Championships in Switzerland, but there are also some exciting youngsters ready to step up after the retirements of Mary Earps and Fran Kirby and the withdrawal of Millie Bright.
Young Chelsea striker Aggie Beever-Jones scored a hat-trick against Portugal in the lead-up to the tournament, while Arsenal teenager Michelle Agyemang scored on her international debut after an impressive campaign on loan at Brighton, and Williamson is part of the group in a position to ensure those talented youngsters don’t get overawed.
“I think the game has changed a lot since the experienced members of the team played their first – the whole landscape of women’s football, so we have to take into account those things when we do speak to them,” Williamson said.
“But it’s giving them as much freedom to enjoy the experience, know they’re ready to perform and make their mark on the pitch.
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“Just trying to find that balance – I would never want anybody wanting to come in so anxious that it’s going to consume them, but at the same time it’s different, there’s lots of shiny things when you’re coming into the tournament and lots of experiences to be had.
“But ultimately the main focus is on the pitch and I think based off of training – and I’m sure Sarina agrees – everybody’s focus is football first.
“Which has been great, because I feel sometimes players who have never been to a tournament – and it was probably me when I went to my first – you have to keep them in line a little bit because they can get a bit distracted, but there’s no fear of that with these guys.”
Williamson partnered Bright at centre-back for the 2022 final, when England beat Germany at Wembley, but it will be Alex Greenwood alongside her at Stadion Letzigrund in Zurich.
“I think Alex is an exceptional ball player, she sees things that not many do,” Williamson said of her fellow defender. “She’s always at such a high performance. I think when you play next to someone like Alex, she demands so much of herself and naturally of you too.
“So her experience, she’s one of my best mates, so I have a good time playing, but she’s also one of those players that you don’t want to let down because her level is is so consistently high.
“I think there’s loads of differences [with Millie], obviously the physicality of it, Millie is blessed in ways that people like me and Alex are probably not and she has those strengths and I think yeah, we maybe we have to do talk in a different way, I suppose.”
Williamson missed the 2023 World Cup through injury, but is ready to make up for lost time on a personal level.
“I’ve probably held some anxiety up until this moment just because I wanted to be here and I wanted to be here with the team and I wanted to experience another tournament with England and being away from home,” she said. “It’s special when you come to another country, to represent your country and just take everything in.
“It’s a bit different to England in 2022. I’m just taking everything in. I’m very excited but so much has changed so I’m intrigued to come back and enjoy that tournament football.”
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