No player in Gareth Southgate’s current side has been included in as many successive tournament squads as the defender, this his fifth attempt at international glory with the Three Lions.
His first involvement in a major tournament came in 2016 – perhaps England’s lowest ebb for a generation at least after a Round of 16 defeat to Iceland.
But Walker has been a cornerstone in the young side which was rebuilt from the ashes of that ill-fated European Championship and, should the Three Lions claim the ultimate prize this weekend, he can look back with pride at the influence he’s had on that outcome.
Rather poetically, his senior England debut came against the side he’s hoping to beat on Sunday, with former City midfielder Frank Lampard grabbing the only goal in a 1-0 friendly win over Spain in November 2011.
Walker impressed under Fabio Capello but missed out on a place at Euro 2012 through injury, a tournament La Roja would end up winning.
But after battling for a regular starting berth with Glen Johnson over the following three years, the City captain would cement his place ahead of Euro 2016.
As already mentioned, it was a tournament to forget but Walker, fresh from a phenomenal 100-point debut season at City two years later, would be a key figure in one of England’s most memorable World Cup showings in 2018.
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An ever-present for the Three Lions in Russia, the full-back helped guide an unfancied side all the way to a first semi-final appearance in 22 years. It would end with extra-time heartache against Croatia, but Southgate’s exciting new-look side had set the bar.
They, and Walker, would go one step further three years later, reaching the final of the delayed Euro 2020.
The defender’s heroics, where he once again featured in every game, earned him a spot in the Team of the Tournament, with England missing out on a first major men’s honour since 1966 on penalties to Italy.
Walker and co.’s near miss at Wembley certainly enhanced their reputation heading into the World Cup 18 months later, with many tipping the Three Lions to go the distance in Qatar.
A quarter-final clash with reigning champions France set up a blockbuster battle, and a test of England’s mettle against one of their biggest challengers.
Walker’s reputation as one of the finest full-backs of his generation was already cemented, but his showdown with Kylian Mbappe provided a fascinating sideshow to the main event.
Two of the quickest players in world football, and both masters in a 1v1 situation, locked horns. Walker came out on top, but England didn’t, losing out 2-1 in the last eight.
Once again though, he’d shown why he continues to be such an influential figure for club and country, and he was awarded the captain’s armband by Gareth Southgate 12 months later against Macedonia.
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Ahead of Euro 2024, he was selected as vice-captain, behind Harry Kane, and he would assist his former Tottenham team-mate in England’s 1-1 draw with Denmark in the group stages this summer.
The Three Lions would qualify as group winners, but it would take time for them to really find their rhythm in the tournament.
An extra time win over Slovakia in the Round of 16 prevented an exit which would’ve paralleled that 2016 defeat to Iceland, before a penalty shootout triumph over Switzerland set up a last four showdown with the Netherlands.
England’s dramatic 2-1 victory will forever be remembered for Ollie Watkins’ clinical turn and finish, but Walker was one of many to put in a heroic display.
Used as one of three centre-halves, time and again he was there to make a decisive interception, incisive pass or lung-busting run forward.
Indeed, he could even have earned another assist to add to his tally, with only the offside flag chalking off his cutback to Bukayo Saka before Watkins’ later heroics.
Nonetheless, that win over the Dutch has given England, and Walker, another shot at Europe’s top prize.
This could be the Three Lions’ finest hour in almost half a century. If that should come to fruition, Walker will have played a starring role in making that happen.
