The importance of the defensive midfielder at the Women's World Cup

 

When England and Germany went head-to-head at Wembley for the Euro 2022 crown last summer, a lot of eyes were on the battle of the tournament’s two best midfielders - Keira Walsh for the Lionesses, and Lena Oberdorf for Germany. 

 

While Beth Mead took home player of the tournament for her goals and assists, many would argue Walsh’s role under Sarina Wiegman has become the most important and influential when it comes to England finally getting their hands on a major trophy.  

 

Oberdorf meanwhile has become the ultimate defensive midfielder, winning best young player at the tournament, and backing it up with the same award in the Champions League last season as she helped Wolfsburg all the way to the final.  

 

Walsh, now the most expensive player in the world after moving to Barcelona, is entering her peak years, while scarily, Oberdorf is still on the road towards that part of her career, and may yet get better still. 

 

But beyond their individual talents and influences, it is their roles in the success of the teams they shine for that hits home the point of just how important a good defensive midfielder is. Whether it is Walsh’s eye for a pass or Oberdorf’s reading of the game and love for a big tackle, very few teams succeed without a top class defensive midfielder. 

 

 

The last few World Cup finals exaggerate the point. The all-energy nature of Julie Ertz for the USA, the inspirationally brilliant Homare Sawa for Japan, or the solid duo of Simone Laudehr and Renate Lingor for Germany. 

 

It is the base to build upon. The player who often goes unnoticed, but allows those flair players to go and win the game – and often the awards with it! The first week of the World Cup has emphasised things too, with many of the successful teams including an absolute rock in the centre of the park. 

 

Some have been entirely predictable given their reputations. Some have gone under the radar, while one or two were perhaps complete unknowns on the world stage before the tournament kicked off last Thursday. 

 

The opening game between New Zealand and Norway was a prime example. Norway’s talent didn’t have enough for New Zealand’s work rate in the middle of the park. Malia Steinmetz and former Manchester City midfielder Betsy Hassett put in superb performances, while Barcelona’s Ingrid Engen found herself overrun in a system put out by head coach Hege Riise, which left her completely unprotected in midfield. 

 

In the other game involving the co-hosts, a lot of eyes were on exciting young attacking midfielder Kyra Cooney-Cross, yet it was Katrina Gorry, who sat behind her to sweep up danger and start attacks, who played a key role in a narrow victory for the Matildas.  

 

While Canada failed to capitalise on large swathes of possession against Nigeria, they have become well-known as one of the most defensively solid sides in world football. A lot of that has been credited to the likes of Kadeisha Buchanan and Ashley Lawrence, but the addition of youngster Julia Grosso in front of them has added an extra layer of quality to Canada’s defensive play and was named the best midfielder in Serie A for Juventus last season. 

 

While Grosso remains impressive, Canada against Nigeria saw the emergence of 19-year-old Deborah Abiodun, who despite being sent off in the last-minute for a rough challenge on Lawrence, put in one of the performances of the round to help Randy Waldrum’s side to a critical point against the Olympic champions. 

 

Spain put in one of the most eye-catching team performances against Costa Rica, and Aitana Bonamti and Jenni Hermoso played huge roles, yet Real Madrid’s underappreciated Teresa Abelleira was the anchor in the midfield, sitting in front of the defence and was responsible for starting several key attacks for her team. 

 

The list goes on, whether it be Japan’s duo of Fuka Nagano and Yui Hasegawa, who dominated the middle of the park against Zambia, Andi Sullivan doing the same for the USA with Ertz required as a centre-back partner for Naomi Girma, or Grace Geyoro’s all-action performance against Jamaica. 

 

Netherlands were particularly interesting, setting up in a 3-5-2 we haven’t seen from them over the years under either Sarina Wiegman or Mark Parsons. It meant the likes of Jackie Groenen and Jill Roord played more defensive roles than they may like, but Groenen in particular did a good job of screening her defence and linking the defenders with the attackers. 

 

Oberdorf was absent for Germany on the final full day of round one games, but another star was Italy’s 16-year-old Giulia Dragoni of Barcelona. It was a bold move from Milena Bertolini to start the teenager, who alongside Manuela Giugliano did a good job in what was a physical encounter between the Italians and Argentina, and was able to get on the ball and help set up attacks for her side. 

 

Defensive midfielders are so often the key to linking defence and attack, and their importance has only been emphasised during this first week of World Cup encounters.  

 

Those battles will recommence, as Arsenal’s Lia Walti will be tasked with marking her Arsenal teammate Frida Maanum as Switzerland face Norway in a critical Group A match, and throughout the tournament the theme of the midfield battle will no doubt get bigger and bigger as the games get bigger and bigger.

The importance of the defensive midfielder at the Women's World Cup