Leah Williamson reveals extent of ankle injury as Lionesses look ahead to Euros semi-final
England battled to a dramatic penalty shootout win over Sweden on Thursday night. After trailing by two at half time, they scored two second-half goals in quick succession to force extra time and, eventually, penalties, where just five of 14 spot-kicks were scored.
But Williamson had left the pitch by that stage, having landed awkwardly and rolled her right ankle after challenging for a header. Speaking at full-time, she said she did not know how severe the injury could be.
'It wasn't about me,' she explained. 'A game like that requires you to be at 100% and nobody can put a foot wrong, so it wasn't the time to stay on the pitch, but I don't know.'
She continued, saying she was disappointed to have had to watch the shootout from the bench but that she was thrilled with the team's performance.
'I just feel really really proud. That was awful to watch at the end. I just love that we don't ever give up.
'I've said it before. We are never done. We don't believe that we are ever done. The fight back, the quality to turn the game around, then stay in it mentally, just incredible.'
Williamson was most proud of her substitutes' performances. Chloe Kelly changed the game on arrival, assisting Lucy Bronze and teeing up Michelle Agyemang in the fw minutes after her introduction.
'You hope to create an environment where everyone is ready and everyone feels valued enough that when it is their time, they can step up and do their job, and that is what you just saw. Everybody covered so much ground, did work for themselves, did their job, and helped out each other. I am so proud of them.
'I said we played three finals in a row now, in terms of if you lose you're going home. We have the proof. Its about turning up and doing the job, so I am a happy girl today.'
She laughed off the missed penalties in the shootout, too.
Asked how much preparation the squad had put in, she chuckled: 'Loads! I know obviously, there were a few more misses than normal, but that is something you have to do before a tournament.
'There is so much science behind it nowadays. It's the easiest and the hardest thing in the world.'
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