Lauren James’ maiden World Cup goal was enough for England to maintain their 100 per cent record in Group D with a 1-0 victory over Denmark at the Sydney Football Stadium.
The Chelsea forward struck the sixth-minute opener, but England suffered a major blow after 38 minutes when midfielder Keira Walsh was stretchered off with an apparent knee injury and later appeared on the touchline using crutches.
James’ goal was England’s first from open play since April’s Finalissima at Wembley, while Denmark came within inches of a last-gasp leveller when Amalie Vangsgaard’s header clipped the post.
The Lionesses still have work to do to reach the last-16 after China overcame a first-half red card to defeat Haiti 1-0. England will top Group D and reach the knockout stages as long as they avoid defeat to the Asian champions.
Here’s everything you need to know.
Who are England playing at the World Cup?
The Lionesses were among the top seeds ahead of the World Cup draw and were placed in Group D, along with China, Denmark, as well as one of the winners of the inter-confederation play-offs. That was where Haiti defeated Senegal and then Chile to qualify for the World Cup for the first time and complete the four-team group.
China, ranked 15th in the world, were among the lowest ranked teams in Pot 2 while Denmark, ranked 18th, were the top team in Pot 3. Haiti are ranked 57th in the world, the second lowest at the tournament.
When are England’s group matches? (All kick-off times BST)
22 July - England 1-0 Haiti (10:30, Brisbane)
28 July - England 1-0 Denmark (09:30, Sydney)
1 August - China vs England (12:00, Adelaide)
What is England’s potential path to the final?
If England win Group D
7 August: Winners Group D vs Runners-up Group B (08:30, Brisbane)
12 August: Winner Match 54 vs Winner Match 56 (11:30, Sydney)
16 August: Winner QF3 vs Winner QF4 (11:00, Sydney)
20 August: Winner SF1 vs Winner SF2 (11:00, Sydney)
If England are runner-up in Group D
7 August: Runners-up Group B vs Runners-up Group D (11:30, Sydney)
12 August: Winner Match 53 vs Winner Match 55 (08:00, Brisbane)
16 August: Winner QF3 vs Winner QF4 (11:00, Sydney)
20 August: Winner SF1 vs Winner SF2 (11:00, Sydney)
What about the rest of the groups?
Group A: New Zealand, Norway, Philippines, Switzerland
Group B: Australia, Republic of Ireland, Nigeria, Canada
Group C: Spain, Costa Rica, Zambia, Japan
Group D: England, Haiti, Denmark, China
Group E: United States, Vietnam, Netherlands, Portugal
Group F: France, Jamaica, Brazil, Panama
Group G: Sweden, South Africa, Italy, Argentina
Group H: Germany, Morocco, Colombia, South Korea
Full World Cup match schedule
(All kick-off times BST )
Group stage:
Thursday 20 July
Group A: New Zealand vs Norway (08:00, Auckland)
Group B: Australia vs Republic of Ireland (11:00, Sydney)
Friday 21 July
Group B: Nigeria vs Canada (03:30, Melbourne)
Group A: Philippines vs Switzerland (06:00, Dunedin)
Group C: Spain vs Costa Rica (08:30, Wellington)
Saturday 22 July
Group E: USA vs Vietnam (02:00, Auckland)
Group C: Zambia vs Japan (08:00 Hamilton)
Group D: England vs Haiti (10:30, Brisbane)
Group D: Denmark vs China (13:00, Perth)
Sunday 23 July
Group G: Sweden vs South Africa (06:00, Wellington)
Group E: Netherlands vs Portugal (08:30, Dunedin)
Group F: France vs Jamaica (11:00, Sydney)
Monday 24 July
Group G: Italy vs Argentina (07:00, Auckland)
Group H: Germany vs Morocco (09:30, Melbourne)
Group F: Brazil vs Panama (12:00, Adelaide)
Tuesday 25 July
Group H: Colombia vs Korea Republic (03:00, Sydney)
Group A: New Zealand vs Philippines (06:30, Dunedin)
Group A: Switzerland vs Norway (09:00, Hamilton)
Wednesday 26 July
Group C: Japan vs Costa Rica (06:00, Dunedin)
Group C: Spain vs Zambia (08:30, Auckland)
Group B: Canada vs Republic of Ireland (13:00, Perth)
Thursday 27 July
Group E: USA vs Netherlands (02:00, Wellington)
Group E: Portugal vs Vietnam (08:30, Hamilton)
Group B: Australia vs Nigeria (11:00, Brisbane)
Friday 28 July
Group G: Argentina vs South Africa (01:00, Dunedin)
Group D: England vs Denmark (09:30, Sydney)
Group D: China vs Haiti (12:00, Adelaide)
Saturday 29 July
Group G: Sweden vs Italy (08:30, Wellington)
Group F: France vs Brazil (11:00, Brisbane)
Group F: Panama vs Jamaica (13:30, Perth)
Sunday 30 July
Group H: Korea Republic vs Morocco (05:30, Adelaide)
Group A: Norway vs Philippines (08:00, Auckland)
Group A: Switzerland vs New Zealand (08:00, Dunedin)
Group H: Germany vs Colombia (10:30, Sydney)
Monday 31 July
Group C: Costa Rica vs Zambia (08:00, Hamilton)
Group C: Japan vs Spain (08:00, Wellington)
Group B: Ireland vs Nigeria (11:00, Brisbane)
Group B: Canada vs Australia (11:00, Melbourne)
Tuesday 1 August
Group E: Vietnam vs Netherlands (08:00, Dunedin)
Group E: Portugal vs USA (08:00, Auckland)
Group D: Haiti vs Denmark (12:00, Perth)
Group D: China vs England (12:00, Adelaide)
Wednesday 2 August
Group G: South Africa vs Italy (08:00, Wellington)
Group G: Argentina vs Sweden (08:00, Hamilton)
Group F: Jamaica vs Brazil (11:00, Melbourne)
Group F: Panama vs France (11:00, Sydney)
Thursday 3 August
Group H: Korea Republic vs Germany (11:00, Brisbane)
Group H: Morocco vs Colombia (11:00, Perth)
Knockout stages
Saturday 5 August
Match 49: Winners Group A vs Runners-up Group C (06:00, Auckland)
Match 50: Winners Group C vs Runners-up A (09:00, Wellington)
Sunday 6 August
Match 51: Winners Group E vs Runners-up Group G (03:00, Sydney)
Match 52: Winners Group G vs Runners-up Group E (10:00, Melbourne)
Monday 7 August
Match 54: Winners Group D vs Runners-up Group B (08:30, Brisbane)
Match 53: Runners-up Group B vs Runners-up Group D (11:30, Sydney)
Tuesday 8 August
Match 56: Winners Group H vs Runners-up Group F (09:00, Melbourne)
Match 55: Winners Group F vs Runners-up Group H (12:00, Adelaide)
Friday 11 August
QF1: Winner Match 49 vs Winner Match 51 (02:00, Wellington)
QF2: Winner Match 50 vs Winner Match 52 (08:30, Auckland)
Saturday 12 August
QF3: Winner Match 53 vs Winner Match 55 (08:00, Brisbane)
QF4: Winner Match 54 vs Winner Match 56 (11:30, Sydney)
Tuesday 15 August
SF1: Winner QF1 vs Winner QF 2 (09:00, Auckland)
Wednesday 16 August
SF2: Winner QF3 vs Winner QF4 (11:00, Sydney)
Saturday 19 August
3rd place play-off: Loser SF1 vs Loser SF2 (09:00, Brisbane)
Sunday 20 August
Final: Winner SF1 vs Winner SF2 (11:00, Sydney)
Match venues
Australia
Sydney (Stadium Australia, 83,500)
Sydney (Sydney Football Stadium, 42,512)
Brisbane (Lang Park, 52,263)
Melbourne (Melbourne Rectangular Stadium, 30,000)
Perth (Perth Rectangular Stadium, 22,225)
Adelaide (Hindmarsh Stadium, 16,500)
New Zealand
Auckland (Eden Park, 48,276)
Wellington (Wellington Regional Stadium, 39,000)
Dunedin (Forsyth Barr Stadium, 28,744)
Hamilton (Waikato Stadium, 25,111)
