Keira Walsh remains unfazed as opponents try to stop her pulling England's strings

Keira Walsh has become that player for England, the one every team wants to remove from gameplay, the one that is arguably the most pivotal player for the Lionesses in this World Cup. Yet the pressure that comes with this does not seem to faze the Barcelona midfielder.

Walsh was voted Player of the Match for her incredible performance against Germany in last summer's Euro 2022 final. Just over a month later, Barcelona made her the most expensive player in the history of women's football when they bought her from Manchester City.

However, as the 26-year-old has increasingly made a name for herself as one of the best deep-lying playmakers in the world, she has become a target for opposing teams looking for ways to stop her.

Analysis ahead of the World Cup showed more and more teams trying to squeeze the space around Walsh and prevent her getting on the ball, all in a bid to flatten her influence. But that is something she insists she is used to and isn't even specifically targeting her.

"I was used to it at Man City, it happened quite a lot in the WSL," Walsh explained. "I don’t necessarily think it’s just me. I think a lot of teams are trying to stop holding midfielders in general because that’s where football is going now, a lot of teams play through midfield.

"We have many other top players so if I’m marked, that leaves space for my teammates around me.

"I think I maybe noticed it more further on into games in the Euros, I think the Sweden game they really looked to stop us, not just me, playing through midfield," she continued.

"Obviously in the final, Germany went man for man, so it’s naturally more difficult in midfield anyway.
But I was used to it in the WSL, I learned quite a lot, so for me it’s something I’ve experienced before and I can try and figure it out, get on the ball, and make an impact."

In an attempt to combat the lock that teams place on her, not wanting to give too much away, Walsh said its more about reading the game smarter that playing directly.

"I think it’s about picking up smarter spaces and dropping into different areas and maybe not staying so set in the middle," she added, speaking at the Lionesses base in Terrigal.

"Maybe it’s about going forward for it to come back to me and getting the sets and finding different ways to get me on the ball rather than passing from A to B."

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 During her time in Manchester, Walsh was exposed to particular emphasis on build-up going through the holding midfielder, dating back to when she was 18 or 19 years old.

Yet in her international youth career, the role was more focused towards stopping counter attacks and breaking up opposition buildup play. That is not something she counts as a positional strength of her, but still credits the development of the role she has adapted to.

"It’s think it’s bringing other players into play and setting up attacks for our team," Walsh explained.

"I think the game has changed as a whole, but I’ve got more influence from the Spanish in terms of how they’ve always played, and the Pep [Guardiola] influence has always helped me in that respect."

Speaking on the massive change in circumstances following her world record move to Barcelona, Walsh admitted it had been a lot to take in, adding in that removing herself from social media was a benefit during the past 12 months.

“I think when I first moved to Barcelona, I did have to take a deep breath. When you go into that environment and look at their midfield, it is a little bit daunting. I just take the game day-to-day and enjoy playing. I don’t really focus too much on what’s going on on the outside," she said.

"But when it’s all said and done, winning the Euros and the Champions League in the space of a year, you do need to take a breath and take a step back – not to evaluate it – but let it all sink in. It’s exciting, and then going to a World Cup as well…"

Returning her attention back to the tournament now at hand and reflecting on England's narrow 1-0 victory over Haiti in their opening game of the campaign, Walsh commented on the physicality of the game and the impressive calibre that the tournament has risen to, compared to past tournaments.

"People are expecting teams like Haiti to be easy, and they are not. The games have been different, and it’s been 1-0 or 2-0," she said.

"Haiti were probably one of the toughest teams I’ve played against in terms of speed on the counter-attack. You will see that more in the tournament as well. The teams that people are not expecting too much from, they have really improved.

"That’s exciting for women’s football in general because we know these teams are becoming more competitive. They made it really difficult for us, and I think they will be a team to watch in the rest of the group games."

And against Denmark, Walsh predicts a tough game too: "Denmark are a top team. Everyone talks about Pernille Harder, but they have some very good players who work really hard. It will be a tough game but one we’re looking forward to."

WATCH THE LATEST WORLD CUP EDITION OF 90MIN TALKS

Shebahn Aherne is joined by Girls on the Ball, Chloe Morgan and 90min's Lizzy Becherano to review the World Cup's opening fixtures. England's narrow win over an impressive Haiti is also analysed, as are the Lionesses' attacking concerns going forward.

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