View From The Field: Ward’s Words (Helen Ward column)

Wales’ record goalscorer begins her column by admitting the World Cup was a difficult watch at first, because Wales had pushed England so close in qualifying and then had to watch everyone else take the field. Once past that she enjoyed it, and says she knew it would be huge before a ball was kicked from the way the media and the big brands were behind it. She backed the United States from the start, arguing that what people read as arrogance is the belief that carried them through the tight games. On the Lionesses she is generous: even the critics were watching. She turns to Watford’s pre-season and to Wales’ Euro qualifiers, and to losing Jess Fishlock to an anterior cruciate ligament injury.