England captain Leah Williamson has shared her strategy for handling Arsenal teammate Katie McCabe in the upcoming Euro 2025 qualifier between the Lionesses and Ireland. The match is eagerly awaited, with Williamson set to lead England against Ireland's captain and fellow Arsenal player, McCabe.
McCabe has been a standout performer for Eileen Gleeson's team, contributing significantly to Ireland's first-ever Women's World Cup last summer while playing for one of the biggest clubs in women's football, and delivering key moments in games.
However, Williamson believes that neutralising McCabe's impact comes down to basic tactics. "Well if she doesn't have the ball then she can't do anything, so that's a good start," she said light-heartedly during Monday's pre-match press conference, a sentiment echoed by England manager Sarina Wiegman.
After a year out due to an ACL injury, Williamson is set to make her much-anticipated return to the England starting line-up. The Arsenal centre-back expressed her pride at returning to top-level football.
"The level in this team is so high and the way that, especially in my unit, the versatility is so good for England," she stated. "Coming back in, I know there is pressure to reach a certain level.", reports the Mirror.
Williamson announced that there has been "no communication" with her Arsenal teammate ahead of Tuesday's showdown, at the same time, she acknowledged the impact McCabe has had on their sporting journey together.
"Katie [McCabe] is a big personality," stated Williamson. "She's always been someone who is really proud of where she comes from and she's been authentic in that with friends so a lot of people connect with her in that way."
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The skills Katie possesses have put her in the spotlight in the football world and subsequently drawn further attention to Arsenal, noted Williamson, adding: "She knows her strengths and she has those strengths that can be game-changing, which has raised the profile of her game and subsequently Arsenal's, so she's been an important player for us over the last couple of years."
As England's Lionesses got off to a challenging start in their Euro 2025 qualification campaign and defence of their European title with a tough 1-1 draw against Sweden, Williamson pointed out the severity of their situation. Their qualification group, hosting three of the top six FIFA-ranked nations, has been prophetically dubbed the feared "group of death".
However, despite the Republic of Ireland not being among the group's top-six ranked nations, Williamson highlighted the task they embody.
With a nod to past performances, she observed: "They had a 1-0 result against France, I think it is going to be a test for us. They have key players up top but also a strong defensive line as well."
