Within a few minutes of sitting down and talking to Leah Williamson, you begin to understand why she’s been given the job. Her mum, she says, describes her as “aggressive” – for the record, she prefers “assertive” – and her team-mate Jill Scott calls her “cold and unemotional”.
But today Williamson is friendly, warm and funny. It’s perhaps no coincidence she uses the word “balance” a lot as we chat, because Williamson seems to be the epitome of it – astute, level-headed, honest and – perhaps most importantly – authentic. She’ll need that and more as she prepares to lead the Lionesses in what could be a defining few months in hers and her team-mates’ lives.
In the absence of an injured Steph Houghton – who is now fit and back in the squad – manager Sarina Wiegman turned to Williamson to captain England. The Arsenal player has never started at a major tournament and doesn’t captain her club, but Wiegman has been impressed with the progression of Williamson over the years, both physically and mentally. The manager says of her skipper: “She’s herself and…
