England 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Get Win, But At What Cost?

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It’s Friday, July 28th. Give us four minutes, we give you everything World Cup.

“I think it looks very dry… You could see on the movement that when she [Walsh] tries to slide with her right foot, it stops and then twists her knee. It looks funny but it's a danger to player welfare to have such a dry pitch. It should allow you to slide through. It's not good enough.”

-Arsenal boss Jonas Eidevall has criticized the pitch where Barcelona and England star Keira Walsh appears to have injured her knee. More below.

I. England dealt major blow as they lose Keira Walsh in 1-0 victory over Denmark 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

The Lionesses’ first goal from open play since April 6th came on the electric foot of Lauren James (Chelsea), who catapulted the early game-winner in just the sixth minute.

After missing the 2022 Euro roster, James tore through this WSL season with her elite passing, deft maneuvering, and ability to finish chances. Now finally a part of Sarina Weigman’s squad in a major tournament, James has still had to battle with a formidable line of forwards ahead of her for playing time.

After subbing into England’s first match in the 61st minute, James was given her first start for Weigman in a major competition against Denmark. From there, it took James all of six minutes to prove Weigman was right to select her from the start. As her footballing-brother Reece James (yes that Reece James) reacted via Instagram: “She’s arrived”.

Overshadowing James’ earth-shattering introduction to the starting lineup, though, is the catastrophic loss of Keira Walsh (Barcelona) just behind her.

Walsh went down in the 35th minute in what immediately appeared to be a serious injury to her right knee. The no contact injury and reaction from Walsh, who seemed to mouth “I’ve done my knee” to England’s medical team, is all too familiar in women’s football. Already, three key starters from England’s Euro 2022 Championship squad are absent with knee injuries: Leah Williamson (Arsenal), Beth Mead (Arsenal), and Fran Kirby (Chelsea).

The public remains waiting for official word on the extent of injury. But in the meantime, the worst is feared not just for Walsh’s health, but for England’s future without her.

The now-retired Lioness Ellen White (who ran out as starting striker for that Euro team) commented on the integral role Walsh plays, saying “there was no plan B” for ever playing without her, adding, “Everything [came] from Keira. We appreciated so much that all our play came through her, I just don’t know who’s going to fill that void.”

Sarina Weigman’s most recent comments were measured, though, telling the English press in Australia:

“Of course I’m concerned because she couldn’t walk off the pitch. But we don’t know yet, so we can’t make any assumptions. Let’s just wait until we have a diagnosis and then we can tell you.”

MORE: From The Athletic, How missing the Euros gives Lauren James a “hunger” for this World Cup

II. China overcome Haiti 1-0 while down to 10 players 🇨🇳🇭🇹

Les Grenadiers met their second World Cup match with another strong performance. Though it was not enough to overcome the Steel Roses, who played with just 10 players after Zhang Rui (Shandong Sports Lottery) was sent off following a wildly dangerous challenge in the 29th minute.

The difference maker came in the waning moments after a mismatched grudge match, as China drew a penalty in the box. Racing Louisville’s Wang Shuang stepped up to collect her first-ever World Cup goal, alongside China’s victory.

III. Argentina 2 - 2 South Africa; South Africa claims first World Cup point but concedes early advantage 🇦🇷🇿🇦

Both teams greeted their second test of Group G having never won a World Cup match.

Things looked promising early for Banyana Banyana, who took the lead 2-0 by the 66th minute. The first goal came amid Argentine confusion in the backline, apparently expecting an offside call that didn’t arrive to save them. Linda Mothalo (Glasgow City) capitalized. Racing Louisville’s Thembi Kgatlana (who assisted the first goal), scored the second with a perfectly timed run to finish the ball in from Jermaine Seoposenwe (Monterrey).

But the Argentines fought back with a ferocity, running away with two goals in just five minutes to call it even.

Sophia Braun dropped the first premonition of a comeback in the 74th minute, collecting a misclear and rocking it to the net’s top corner. Romina Nunez followed with a 79th minute header in the box to seal a point for Argentina.

Heading into their final game, both teams sit behind Italy and Sweden in the standings, who meet next.

IV. Racing Louisville is the leading scorer of the World Cup 🌏 🏆

NWSL’s Racing Louisville has torn into the group stage as the leading scorer (club-wise) of the World Cup so far. They lead the way while teams like Barcelona, Bayern Munich, and Arsenal follow a few goals behind them.

The fun started with Brazil’s Ary Borges, who leads the golden boot race after her hat-trick against Panama. Next came Uchenna Kanu, who broke Aussie hearts with the early equalizer in Nigeria’s stunning victory over the co-hosts. South Africa’s Thembi Kgatlana scored the second of two goals for Banyana Banyana in a draw with Argentina. And finally China’s veteran footballer, Wang Shuang, scored her first-ever World Cup goal in dramatic fashion, as she scored a penalty awarded to a 10-player China side to win over Haiti.

Savannah DeMelo next? 👀

V. COMING UP 📺

Sweden vs Italy (3:30 a.m. EST; FS1, Peacock, Telemundo) 🇸🇪🇮🇹

The top of Group G squares off overnight to determine the likely order of the final group. Should the US indeed progress from Group E, they could be off to meet one of these two next in the knockout.

France vs Brazil (6 a.m. EST; FOX, Peacock, Telemundo) 🇫🇷🇧🇷

France enters this match still waiting to show the World Cup what they can do with all that talent. Brazil enters having just shown it with flair in a 4-0 trouncing of Panama. No matter the result, this is among the marquee match-ups of the group stage; it’s must-watch television.

Panama vs Jamaica (8:30 a.m. EST; FOX, Peacock, Telemundo) 🇵🇦🇯🇲

Jamaica were commendable in their first match against France, holding the European giants to a 0-0 standstill. But a stoppage-time red card to their most talented player, Bunny Shaw, will hurt them as they face Panama, still seeking their first-ever World Cup victory in their second tournament appearance.

VI. PARTING SHOTS

“Being cereal mommy is a lifestyle”- Sammy Mewis tells Rog about her go-to soccer-watching snacks. To watch along with Sam and Rog as they comment on all the big games … or re-watch it with them, WATCH HERE.