Women’s World Cup 2023: Sensational Lauren James bags brace as England crush China to top group

Two-goal Lauren James starred as England produced their best performance of the World Cup so far with a majestic 6-1 victory over China that saw the Lionesses top Group D with a perfect record.

Sarina Wiegman’s European champions shifted to a 3-4-1-2 system in the absence of the inspirational Keira Walsh and the surprise switch in tactics reaped impressive rewards via an irresistible display.

England had only needed a point to secure a spot in the knockout stage, but Alessia Russo set the ball rolling towards a superb win with an expert touch and finish to net her first goal of the tournament on four minutes.

The Lionesses’ fluid attack seemed to expose China at will and a second followed on 26 minutes when Millie Bright and James combined to feed Lauren Hemp, who made no mistake with a composed, low shot.

The lively James had already caught the eye with two assists and she deservedly got on the scoresheet four minutes before the interval with a sweet first-time strike from 20 yards out.

The Chelsea forward curled an even better shot into the top corner in first-half stoppage time, but had it chalked off for offside following a harsh VAR intervention.

VAR then again worked against England following the interval when the referee awarded a penalty for handball against an astonished Lucy Bronze on 57 minutes.

China’s Wang Shuang made no mistake from the spot, but any suggestions of a fight back were ended past the hour when James expertly volleyed home her second of the contest.

Substitute Chloe Kelly took advantage of a goalkeeping error to add a fifth before Rachel Daly rounded off the scoring six minutes from time.

The result sees the Lionesses finish at the summit of Group D with three wins from three and they will now meet Nigeria in the last 16 on Monday.

China miss out on second spot to Denmark, who will take on co-hosts Australia.

England make a statement of their World Cup title credentials as masterful Wiegman finds answer to Walsh dilemma.

England had got the job done without really making any waves in their first two matches and questions were being asked as to how the European champions would react as they geared up for what many felt would be their toughest test yet without the injured Walsh.

This was an emphatic answer. Not only did the fluid attack of Hemp, Russo and James provide the cutting edge the Lionesses had previously been missing, but the system got the best out of the likes of Bronze and first-time starter, Katie Zelem. Indeed, the absence of Walsh was barely mentioned, such was the all-round brilliance of the team’s performance.

Much of the credit must go to Wiegman. The England coach was coy in her pre-match media duties as pundits and reporters puzzled over the team selection and who would play where. It proved to be a masterstroke from the Dutch tactician as she got the best out of her players at the key point in the group phase which sets them up perfectly ahead of the knockout stage.

Lauren James (England). The 21-year-old had impressed in the first two matches in the tournament but, like the rest of her teammates, she moved through the gears in this encounter and really took centre stage. Her involvement in the creation of three goals demonstrated her awareness and deft weight of pass while her finishes from distance and on the volley capped an all-round masterful showing.

ENGLAND: Earps 8, Greenwood 8, Bright 8, Carter 8, Bronze 8, Daly 8, Stanway 7, Zelem 8, Hemp 8, Russo 8, James 9. Subs: Coombs 7, Charles 7, England 7, Kelly 7, Toone n/a.

CHINA: Zhu 6, Li 6, Wei Yao 6, Shanshan Wang 6, Yang 6, Lou 6, Chen 6, Lingwei Yao 6, Wu 6, Linyan Zhang 6, Shuan Wang 7. Subs: Gu 6, Wu H 6, Dou n/a, Shen n/a, Wang n/a.

04’ – GOAL! – England 1-0 China. Russo sizzles a low shot in at the near post after James had kept an attack down the left alive by nodding into the area for the forward to rifle England in front.

26’ – GOAL! – England 2-0 China. Hemp produces a sublime touch to take James’ pass in her stride before stroking a low finish into the far corner. It all came after Bright stepped in to seize possession in the centre circle, beat an opponent and set James free with a clever, flicked pass.

34’ – ENGLAND CHANCE! It could easily be three but Lucy Bronze is unlucky to see an attempt come back off the post.

41’ – GOAL! – England 3-0 China. James curves a brilliant first-time, 20-yard shot into the far corner after China left the England star unmarked when defending a right-wing free kick.

57’ – GOAL! – England 3-1 China. Wang Shuang steps up and rolls the ball down the middle as Earps dives to her left. The penalty was awarded following a VAR check for a hand ball by Lucy Bronze.

66’ – GOAL! – England 4-1 China. James does get her second of the contest with a stunning volley into the far corner from Carter’s right-wing cross. The Chelsea star had a wonderful curler chalked off by VAR in first-half stoppage time, but she wasn’t to be denied this time around.

77’ – GOAL! – England 5-1 China. Kelly gets in on the act as she rolls the ball into an empty net after China keeper Zhu Yu misjudged a long ball over the top.

84’ – GOAL! – England 6-1 China. The Asian side have quite literally been hit for six. Daly hammers in at the far post after pinball in the China box.

England are the first side in FIFA Women’s World Cup history to score at least once in 16 consecutive matches.

Despite not starting England’s first game, Lauren James has the most goals+assists of any player at this year’s FIFAWWC (3 goals, 3 assists). Today she became the first England player to be directly involved in 5+ goals in a game at the Men’s or Women’s World Cup.