Walsh could win her 100th England cap on Tuesday

England midfielder Keira Walsh is set to make her 100th appearance against world champions Spain at Wembley.

The 29-year-old has become an integral part of Sarina Wiegman's squad, helping them to back-to-back European titles.

She could captain the Lionesses on Tuesday (19:00 GMT) with Arsenal defender Leah Williamson's fitness a doubt.

"Obviously it's a very exciting moment. We don't know the team yet for sure but when I started playing football I didn't think this was possible," said Walsh.

"It's a really proud moment for me and my family. I don't really like the attention being on me so I try to focus on the game and forget everything else.

"I do feel a bit awkward about it. I just love playing football. Whether it's the first or the 100th cap, I'll feel the same. It's still putting the shirt on."

She made her debut in front of less than 10,000 fans in a 5-0 win over Kazakhstan at Colchester Community Stadium in November 2017.

Reflecting on how things have changed since her first cap, Walsh said: "I was speaking about this with some of the girls the other day.

"When I got my first cap there was not a lot of people in the crowd. It was at a random stadium and we were playing Kazakhstan.

"Tomorrow there will be 75,000 people at Wembley and we're playing against one of the best teams in the world. That shows the growth of the women's game.

"There are some of us in the squad who were part of it when the women's game wasn't quite there. I can definitely feel that from my first to my 100th cap. It's just exciting to see where the game has gone."

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Walsh's ability has been clear from the start of her England career and she was given the armband on just her seventh appearance in 2018.

She was named player of the match when England won Euro 2022 having set-up Ella Toone's opening goal in the final with an exquisite pass.

Known for her technical ability and passing range, Walsh has started almost every game for Wiegman at major tournaments, only missing one at the 2023 World Cup because of a knee injury in the group stages.

She was also awarded an MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire) in the King's New Year Honours list for 2026.

"I watched her before I came into the England environment and she was a very good player. She was very tactical and technical," said Wiegman.

"She has enormous vision and game understanding. When I came in, I thought 'oh, that's even better than I thought.'

"She is an important player in leading the team in how we want to play. That's crucial. I think also Keira has stayed to who she is and also grown as a person."

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Leah Williamson (left) and Keira Walsh (right) lifting the Euro 2025 trophy

A mainstay throughout Walsh's career has been best friend and team-mate Williamson, who played alongside her in England's youth teams.

Williamson, the Lionesses captain, said Walsh was "a good person to have in your corner" and praised her consistency.

"The way she plays is subtle but integral to the team that she's in. If Keira's good and if Keira's flying, the team's flying," Williamson told the Women's Football Weekly podcast.

"That is a heavy weight to carry, but one that I think she does with the way she presents herself. She's just this real steady, consistent presence.

"Keira can do things on a ball that other people can't. At my first World Cup in France [2019], she picked up the nickname 'Baby Ronnie' after Brazilian Ronaldo.

"Everything about her just oozes elegance and I hope she knows how appreciated she is among us. She dictates the way that you play."

Off the pitch, the pair often share rooms and sit together when travelling to England matches.

Their families are close and Williamson said she has learned from Walsh.

"She wears her heart on her sleeve and says it as it is. I think more people should be like that," added Williamson.

"Keira is a really considerate person and a really good listener. She's very intelligent. She thinks about things before she says them.

"She can be a bit annoying sometimes because she'll give me the thing I don't want to hear, but her perspective on life, how she treats other people, cultures, all of those different things, she's taught me a lot.

"She's just a good person to have in your corner."

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