It will be an emotional night for Leah Williamson when England face the Republic of Ireland with the defender set to start her first Lionesses game in almost a year.

Williamson has not featured for England since April 11 2023 after she suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury later that month, something which ruled her out of the Lionesses’ run to the FIFA Women’s World Cup final.

The 27-year-old was set to return for England in February but had to withdraw following a minor set-back and after being an unused substitute during Friday’s 1-1 draw with Sweden, Sarina Wiegman confirmed Williamson is set to start against the Republic of Ireland on Tuesday night.

Williamson said: “I think who I am on the pitch, who you've always seen on the pitch, is exactly what I was off the pitch. I don't think I was a calming presence for anyone during the World Cup, especially, but I've enjoyed watching the girls.

“I've enjoyed being a part of that journey in a different way. Obviously, I've got people that play for the team that are very important to me but it's been a difficult journey.

“I'd be lying if I said this wasn't the thing, that I sort of had my focus on. This is where I wanted to get back to. I wanted to be good enough to get back into this squad, to have some of the best memories of my life as part of this team.”

She continued: “Yeah, it will be [emotional on Tuesday night]. It was an emotional Friday for me. I'm an emotional person. We've all seen me crying on many occasions but yeah, it was emotional on Friday because as I said, if there is a team that you want to be in the world, I think the Lionesses will be up there and I just I love playing for England.”

Tuesday night’s game at the Aviva Stadium will be the teams’ second UEFA Women’s EURO 2025 qualifier.

Whilst England had to settle for a point against Sweden at Wembley Stadium connected by EE, the Republic of Ireland battled to a narrow 1-0 defeat away to the world’s number three team, France.

Williamson said: “I'm expecting them to be really disciplined in the way that they defend, with the 1-0 result against France, so I think it's going to be a test for us to move the ball and move them.

“Obviously, they've got key players up top but also a strong defensive line as well. I know all those girls really well, so it's going to it's going to be a good one.”

Williamson was speaking alongside head coach Sarina Wiegman in the pre-match press conference.

And the England boss added: “They were promoted to this qualification group [after winning their Nations League pool] and you don’t ever underestimate anyone, especially not Ireland.

“In their 1-0 result against France, I think that was really good. They are a physical team, they're very well organised and also they can play the counter-attack and try to take that opportunity, in the moments that they will jump and press out. So we have to be aware of that. It is definitely going to be hard to break down their defence.”

"I've said a thousand times, the greatest honour in my life and the most important thing in my life is getting back to a place to be here." ❤️

A special welcome back with @nikefootball, @leahcwilliamson. 🤝 pic.twitter.com/CCjQ2Vtpq3

— Lionesses (@Lionesses) April 7, 2024

The Republic of Ireland are captained by Katie McCabe, who has been a team-mate of Williamson for the last nine years.

The pair have not spoken in the build-up to this game, as is commonplace when countries meet, but Williamson was very complimentary of McCabe.

She said: “Katie is a big personality. She's always been somebody that's very proud of where she comes from and has been authentic in that with the fans. So I think a lot of people connect to her in that way.

“She knows her strengths and those strengths can be game-changing as well, which I think has raised the profile of the game, her game and subsequently Arsenal.

“So she has been an important player for us over the last couple of years.”

The press conference started with Wiegman confirming that the fact Williamson was sitting next to her did indeed mean she was penciled in to start against the Republic of Ireland, before she added: “Everyone is good. Everyone will be on the pitch [in training] this morning and they have recovered well from last Friday's game.

“So we have one more training session to go and then we're ready for tomorrow.”

Match Stats

- England have won all six of their previous games against the Republic of Ireland by an aggregate score of 28-1.

- This is the first meeting between the Republic of Ireland and England since a European Championship qualifier back in 1986. England won 4-0 at Elm Park with a brace from Kerry Davis and goals by Linda Curl and Sue Law.

- The Republic of Ireland have never scored a goal on home soil against England in three previous matches, although all these games were played during the 1980s (lost 5-0 in 1981, lost 1-0 in 1982 and lost 6-0 in 1985).

- England have now scored in each of their last nine matches since losing in the World Cup final 1-0 to Spain in August 2023 (28 in total); should they score against the Republic of Ireland, it’ll be the tenth time they’ve had a scoring run of at least 10 games.

- Republic of Ireland are without a goal in each of their last three internationals (D1 L2), after winning each of their six games prior.

- Alessia Russo has been involved in four goals in three games for England in 2024 (3 goals, 1 assist), just one fewer than in the entirety of 2023 (5 goals). Indeed, in her last 11 starts for the national team, she’s been involved in eight goals (7 goals, 1 assist).

- England’s Lauren James has been involved in seven goals in her last five international appearances (2 goals, 5 assists), assisting in her last two games against Italy and Sweden.

- Against France in their UEFA Women’s Championship qualifier, Republic of Ireland registered just one shot, their fewest since September 2022 against Slovakia (also 1).

Republic of Ireland in profile

England Squad News

Ticket Information

How to watch or stream

Sarina Wiegman has named her starting line-up for the game in Dublin, with a return to the team for captain Leah Williamson and there's also a start in goal for Hannah Hampton.

Elsewhere, Jess Park, Ella Toone and Jess Carter are named in the team as the Lionesses aim to build on the point they gained last Friday at Wembley.

England: 1 Hannah Hampton, 2 Lucy Bronze, 3 Jess Carter, 4 Keira Walsh, 5 Leah Williamson (c), 6 Alex Greenwood, 7 Lauren James, 8 Jess Park, 9 Alessia Russo, 10 Ella Toone, 11 Lauren Hemp.

Substitutes: 12 Niamh Charles, 13 Mary Earps, 14 Fran Kirby, 15, Lotte Wubben-Moy, 16 Chloe Kelly, 17 Beth Mead, 18 Grace Clinton, 19 Rachel Daly, 20 Georgia Stanway, 21 Kayla Rendell, 22 Esme Morgan, 23 Millie Turner

Lauren James’ early goal propelled England to their first UEFA Women’s EURO 2025 Qualifying victory with a 2-0 win over the Republic of Ireland.

The forward’s superb finish gave the Lionesses an advantage in the 12th minute before Alex Greenwood doubled the lead through a penalty for handball.

Greenwood stepped up to the spot again in the first half at the Aviva Stadium following another handball in the box but was denied her brace by the post.

Sarina Wiegman’s side stood strong for the remainder of the clash, despite late Irish pressure, for all three points in the two sides’ first competitive meeting since 1986.

Neither team could find an immediate hold in a closely fought ten minutes – with Alessia Russo’s tame header from a James cross the only effort at goal.

James broke the deadlock inside the 12th minute when she slotted home after a superb Keira Walsh cross bumbled in the box and fell to her feet.

England quickly doubled their lead six minutes later when the visitors were awarded a penalty after Jess Park's volley struck Ruesha Littlejohn’s outstretched arm in the box.

Greenwood calmly stepped up and made no mistake, striking to Courtney Brosnan’s right side as she dived to her left.

The defender was presented with an opportunity to double her goal tally when the ball bounced up onto Louise Quinn’s arm in the box from a Lauren Hemp ball for another penalty.

But Greenwood was this time denied by the post and the Lionesses continued to press on for their third.

In the 39th minute, James fancied her chances from 25 yards out when she saw a gap in the Republic of Ireland’s defence, but the strike was comfortable for Brosnan in goal.

England resumed the second half in a similar fashion and continued to dominate possession.

Wiegman showed off England’s depth, bringing on Beth Mead and Fran Kirby to bolster the Lionesses’ attack in the 56th minute as the visitors controlled the tempo.

Eileen Gleeson had her own plans to get the Republic of Ireland back into the game as Megan Campbell came from the bench to launch two threatening throw-ins into the box, but England held firm to keep the hosts out.

At the other end of the pitch, Kirby was denied by a point-blank save when James found Mead in the box who headed into her path.

The hosts missed an opportunity when Leanne Kiernan met Katie McCabe’s free-kick but the ball flashed across goal.

The Republic of Ireland applied pressure in the latter stages but Leah Williamson, returning for her first England start in more than a year, commanded a stubborn England defence.

Hannah Hampton was called to action with less than ten minutes left and parried Caitlin Hayes’ header to keep a clean sheet.

England saw the game out for all three points and next play Group A3 leaders France at St. James’ Park where a win would see them go top.

England: 1 Hannah Hampton, 2 Lucy Bronze, 3 Jess Carter, 4 Keira Walsh, 5 Leah Williamson (c), 6 Alex Greenwood, 7 Lauren James, 8 Jess Park, 9 Alessia Russo, 10 Ella Toone, 11 Lauren Hemp.

Substitutes: 14 Fran Kirby for Park 56’, 17 Beth Mead for Hemp 56’, 20 Georgia Stanway for Toone 75’, 16 Chloe Kelly for James 86’, 19 Rachel Daly for Russo 86’

Substitutes not used: 12 Niamh Charles, 13 Mary Earps, 15, Lotte Wubben-Moy, 18 Grace Clinton, 21 Kayla Rendell, 22 Esme Morgan, 23 Millie Turner

Head Coach: Sarina Wiegman

Goals: James 12’, Greenwood 18’ (p),

Republic of Ireland: 1 Courtney Brosnan, 4 Louise Quinn, 5 Caitlin Hayes, 8 Ruesha Littlejohn, 10 Denise O’Sullivan, 11 Katie McCabe ©, 12 Anna Patten, 13 Aoife Mannion, 14 Heather Payne, 15 Lucy Quinn, 18 Kyra Carusa

Substitutes: 6 Megan Connolly for Littlejohn 45’, 3 Megan Campbell for Payne 61’, 20 Leanne Kiernan for Quinn 61’, 21 Emily Murphy for Carusa 67’

Substitutes not used: 16 Grace Moloney, 23 Sophie Whitehouse, 2 Jessie Stapleton, 7 Diane Caldwell, 9 Amber Barrett, 17 Lily Agg, 19 Tyler Toland, 22 Isibeal Atkinson

Head Coach: Eileen Gleeson