Leah Williamson, The New Face of Triumph at Wembley
With the two key statistical records, unsurprisingly, Williamson became an irreplaceable figure that led the Lionesses to the first major trophy. She performed fully in the six English matches with a collection of 600 mi
By
MUHAMMAD IKHSAN MAHAR
·6 minutes read
AFP/JUSTIN TALLIS
England's midfielder Leah Williamson poses with the trophy as England players celebrate after their win in the UEFA Women's Euro 2022 final football match between England and Germany at the Wembley stadium, in London, on July 31, 2022. - England won a major women's tournament for the first time as Chloe Kelly's extra-time goal secured a 2-1 victory over Germany at a sold out Wembley on Sunday.
After a long wait of 56 years since World Cup 1966, Wembley Stadium has finally roared and presented the British with a new history. A total of 87,192 spectators at the final duel of European Women’s Football Championship 2022 between the Lionesses and Germany on Sunday (31/7/2022) witnessed Leah Williamson, 25, as England’s first women’s football national-team captain to lift the champion trophy.
Parallel to the men’s team, Williamson was the second English captain to lift the major football trophy. She equaled the achievement of Bobby Moore, who was England’s national-team captain when he lifted the World Cup 1966 trophy at Wembley. Consequently, Williamson has become the new face of the current triumph of England at Wembley.
Williamson is a new member of England’s new generation of women’s national team promoted by Sarina Wiegman, the coach since 1 September 2021. The central back of Arsenal was officially named captain of the
Lionesses in April. She took over the responsibility previously held by Steph Houghton, a 34-year-old senior back, for the last eight years.
Wiegman’s decision was right. Williamson displayed prime action as well as her charisma as a leader in six English matches in Women’s Euro 2022.
The Milton Keynes, United Kingdom-born professional was actually unable to make her scores amid the English performance with its parade of goals at the European tournament. However, Williamson was the main pivot of English maneuvers as manifested in the productive team with strong defense.
At the second senior tournament to support England after Women’s World Cup 2019, Williamson showed her modern back performance that is the dream of every coach today. She made the most of ball-control recovery, without blunders, and was skilled in ball distribution.
Williamson seized the balls from opponents 56 times, including 10 times at the final match against Germany. Moreover, she took over the opponents’ balls without resorting to any tackle at all.
Although she appeared as a back tasked with anticipating opponents’ attacks, Williamson played a very clean game. She only made a violation so that not a single yellow card was issued.
Predictably, Williamson’s action helped England turn out as a team with the strongest defense in Women’s Euro 2022. The Lionesses only saw two goals entering their side from six matches. They came from Spain in the quarter final and Germany respectively. In both matches England defeated the two European giants with a score of 2-1.
It’s not only me; all [English] players enjoyed and delighted in every minute we spent at this tournament.
In ball distribution, Williamson was unequaled in Women’s Euro 2022. As a team that launched strikes from the back line, England made Williamson the main pivot in starting initial attacks.
She made 472 successful passes in six matches. No other players were capable of producing more than 400 effective passes at the tournament.
With the two key statistical records, unsurprisingly, Williamson became an irreplaceable figure that led the Lionesses to the first major trophy. She performed fully in the six English matches with a collection of 600 minutes. Only English-keeper Mary Earps could equal her time score.
“It’s not only me; all [English] players enjoyed and delighted in every minute we spent at this tournament. That has enabled us to realize our dream [of becoming champion],” said Williamson.
Totally, Williamson played 15 last matches along with the Lionesses with a band of captain around her left arm. In the total number, England earned 14 wins and a draw.
AP/ALESSANDRA TARANTINO
England's Leah Williamson, center left, and Millie Bright lift the trophy after winning the Women's Euro 2022 final soccer match between England and Germany at Wembley stadium in London, Sunday, July 31, 2022. England won 2-1.
Ellen White, a senior English striker, does not deny the major role of Williamson in Women’s Euro Cup 2022. According to the 33-year-old player, Williamson was one of the reasons for the victory of the Lionesses at Wembley.
“Leah [Williamson] made a remarkable appearance in this summer. Her passes were exceptional, she helped us record four matches without opponents’ goals. She really gave examples with her deeds. We are very proud to have had her as our captain,” said White, who scored two goals in Women’s Euro 2022.
Tracking dreams
Researching Williamson’s football career is like tracking her childhood dreams. She was born on 29 March 1997 and grew up in a family that supports Arsenal; defending the “Munitions” has been her vision since childhood. She idolizes legendary Arsenal and English women’s-striker Kelly Smith. A photo with Smith’s signature decorates her bedroom.
At the age of nine, Williamson got the opportunity to follow an Arsenal Academy selection. The prospect was not wasted by the 1.7-meter-tall player. She has been registered as a striker of Arsenal Academy since 2006.
Williamson was in the junior team of Arsenal for seven years and transformed into a defense player that could serve as a central back and mid-fielder. She was promoted to the women’s senior team of Arsenal in 2014. Her first game to defend the main team of Arsenal came true in the quarter final of Women’s Champions League against Birmingham City. At the time, Arsenal was beaten 0-2.
Until the season of 2021-2022, Williamson has played in 186 matches with her favorite team by scoring 12 goals. She has contributed five domestic trophies, which are one Premier League, two FA Cup and two Premier League Cup trophies.
Williamson’s impressive performance enabled her to appear in England’s senior national team in 2018. Earlier, Williamson had supported all age groups of English women’s national team from U-15, U-17, U-19, U-20 to U-23.
A total of 37 caps and two goals have been recorded by the player from the Lionesses. After realizing her other dream, to make England a champion, Williamson still wishes to achieve yet another dream, that of developing women’s football in her country.
“Winning this Euro champion trophy is the proudest moment in my life. The legacy of this tournament is to change public opinion of women’s football. We have unified people. We take people to watch [women’s football] matches, so that, hopefully, this enthusiasm is also noticeable at league tournaments,” said Williamson.
