On a cool winter Sydney night that was marred by but extra harm woes for England, Lauren James elevated the temperature within the stadium with a stunning show that introduced her emergence on to the worldwide stage. Her early aim shocked Denmark and set Sarina Wiegman’s Lionesses on the right track for a 1-0 win that left them on the verge of development to the knockout phases of the World Cup.
At simply 21, James is the way forward for this England crew, and it was solely actually a query of “when” fairly than “if” she was going to make her mark on this event. Regardless of being concerned within the senior setup for just below a 12 months, she is, as Leah Williamson so aptly put it, their “cheat code”. On her World Cup debut against Haiti, she had injected life into the Lionesses’ fairly stop-start opening efficiency in its place. It was a show that pressured Wiegman right into a uncommon change to her beginning lineup.
From the whistle, it was evident that James was within the temper to shine in entrance of the 40,000-strong crowd. The pitch is her playground, and she or he was decided to point out what she may do. Her motion was easy and unpredictable, and inside a couple of minutes she had dropped her shoulder and turned Rikke Sevecke to whip in a cross that simply dipped over the bar.
It was a warning signal of what was to come back. Performed into house by Rachel Daly, it took only one contact for the younger winger to nonchalantly discover the house previous Josefine Hasbo. There was a fast look in the direction of aim earlier than she unleashed a superbly struck drive that flew previous the helpless outstretched arms of a diving Lene Christensen. “We see that daily in coaching,” Chloe Kelly stated afterwards. “We will’t get the ball off her toes. When she strikes it like that there’s not a keeper on the planet who’s saving it.”
James continued to be the attacking point of interest all through, even when injury to Keira Walsh threatened to derail England’s night. Partnered down the left aspect with the forward-thinking Daly, she was given the chance to roam, selecting when to make use of the width of the pitch and when to chop inside and break by means of Denmark’s defensive strains. “I’m going to say a bit little bit of credit score as a result of I stated: ‘You’ve received to chop in,’” Daly stated. “We all know she’s unbelievable. She brings a unique presence to the crew and a load of capability. I’m buzzing for her. She is so particular, and you’ll see what she will do in tight areas.”
The Denmark supervisor, Lars Søndergaard, continued the reward of England’s scorer: “She has these particular person abilities that may be tough to analyse. We have been conscious in a cut up second she may do one thing.”
A stint within the No 10 position for the ultimate minutes of the sport did nothing to dent her affect, even with England being positioned beneath strain by Denmark’s ahead line.
Nevertheless, as a lot as she sparkles on the pitch, she stays understated off it, seemingly taking these new experiences in her stride. “Positively [it was a great feeling to score],” she stated after the sport. “It was a dream and one thing I’ve been fascinated by however most significantly I’m comfortable to assist us win … I sort of had a thought after which as quickly because it hit the online, it was simply aid. “
Whereas James’s strike ended the Lionesses’ barren run of scoring from open play, Wiegman’s aspect struggled at factors to construct on their attacking begin. With out Walsh on the sphere, Denmark have been capable of achieve extra of a foothold within the recreation.
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Questions on England’s assault stay regardless of James’s spectacular displaying. Alessia Russo’s dry spell in entrance of aim continues, despite the fact that she created a trademark alternative for herself within the second half. Doing all of the laborious work to show her defender, she bore down on aim however struck the ball huge of the close to submit. Bethany England received a uncommon cameo late on however with simply 14 minutes of play struggled to make her mark on the match whereas Lauren Hemp’s type and productiveness proceed to trigger concern.
England will hope that Walsh’s harm will not be as critical because it seemed however together with her being carried off the sphere, it’ll look like optimism at finest. Walsh has been the understated catalyst within the English midfield over the previous few tournaments, her shows integral to their success final summer season. It virtually appears unfathomable, subsequently, how they are often as potent with out her. Georgia Stanway was deployed in her place for the rest of this recreation, however questions will stay about whether or not she is a long-term substitute. One factor for sure is that Wiegman and her workers have issues that must be solved earlier than the Lionesses’ ultimate group match towards China on Tuesday.
