Captain Kate Walsh will play for the first time at the Women’s World Cup Qualifier in Rome today after missing England’s first three games because of injury. She was hit on the throat during penalty corner practice in Rome a week ago and has since been back to England for medical tests. In her absence England has won all three of their matches, beating Ukraine 3-0, top seeds China 2-1 and France 10-0.
Walsh didn’t get back in time to see England achieve their biggest win over the French for 82 years and send France to their heaviest defeat for 17 years. Today Walsh leads out England against Scotland knowing that a fourth win will almost guarantee them a place in this year’s World Cup even before the last round of group matches. England must be optimistic of beating Scotland comfortably for the Scots have already lost to France. But Scotland, without a point, should not be short of incentive. They have to beat England and Ukraine in their final two group matches to keep alive any hope of their World Cup qualification. History is against them. England beat them 5-0 at the Commonwealth Games, and that was the 16th time in succession.
