On a cool winter Sydney evening that was marred by yet more injury woes for England, Lauren James increased the temperature in the stadium with a dazzling display that announced her emergence on to the global stage. Her early goal stunned Denmark and set Sarina Wiegman’s Lionesses on course for a 1-0 win that left them on the verge of progression to the knockout stages of the World Cup.
At just 21, James is the future of this England team, and it was only really a question of “when” rather than “if” she was going to make her mark on this tournament. Despite being involved in the senior setup for just under a year, 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’ rather stop-start opening performance as a substitute. It was a display that forced Wiegman into a rare change to her starting lineup.
From the whistle, it was evident that James was in the mood to shine in front of the 40,000-strong crowd. The pitch is her playground, and she was determined to show what she could do. Her movement was effortless and unpredictable, and within a few minutes she had dropped her shoulder and turned Rikke Sevecke to whip in a cross that just dipped over the bar.
It was a warning sign of what was to come. Played into space by Rachel Daly, it took just one touch for the young winger to nonchalantly find the space past Josefine Hasbo. There was a quick glance towards goal before she unleashed a perfectly struck drive that flew past the helpless outstretched arms of a diving Lene Christensen. “We see that every day in training,” Chloe Kelly said afterwards. “We can’t get the ball off her feet. When she strikes it like that there is not a keeper in the world who is saving it.”
James continued to be the attacking focal point throughout, even when injury to Keira Walsh threatened to derail England’s evening. Partnered down the left side with the forward-thinking Daly, she was given the opportunity to roam, choosing when to use the width of the pitch and when to cut inside and break through Denmark’s defensive lines. “I’m going to claim a little bit of credit because I said: ‘You’ve got to cut in,’” Daly said. “We know she’s incredible. She brings a different presence to the team and a load of ability. I’m buzzing for her. She is so special, and you can see what she can do in tight spaces.”
The Denmark manager, Lars Søndergaard, continued the praise of England’s scorer: “She has those individual skills that can be difficult to analyse. We were aware in a split second she could do something.”
A stint in the No 10 role for the final minutes of the game did nothing to dent her influence, even with England being placed under pressure by Denmark’s forward line.
However, as much as she sparkles on the pitch, she remains understated off it, seemingly taking these new experiences in her stride. “Definitely [it was a great feeling to score],” she said after the game. “It was a dream and something I’ve been thinking about but most importantly I’m happy to help us win … I kind of had a thought and then as soon as it hit the net, it was just relief. “
While James’s strike ended the Lionesses’ barren run of scoring from open play, Wiegman’s side struggled at points to build on their attacking start. Without Walsh on the field, Denmark were able to gain more of a foothold in the game.
Questions about England’s attack remain despite James’s impressive showing. Alessia Russo’s dry spell in front of goal continues, even though she created a trademark opportunity for herself in the second half. Doing all the hard work to turn her defender, she bore down on goal but struck the ball wide of the near post. Bethany England got a rare cameo late on but with just 14 minutes of play struggled to make her mark on the match while Lauren Hemp’s form and productivity continue to cause concern.
England will hope that Walsh’s injury is not as serious as it looked but with her being carried off the field, it will seem like optimism at best. Walsh has been the understated catalyst in the English midfield over the last few tournaments, her displays integral to their success last summer. It almost seems unfathomable, therefore, how they can be as potent without her. Georgia Stanway was deployed in her position for the remainder of this game, but questions will remain about whether she is a long-term replacement. One thing for certain is that Wiegman and her staff have problems that need to be solved before the Lionesses’ final group match against China on Tuesday.
