2023 Women’s World Cup: England 6-1 China: Superb Lauren James steals the show
Lauren James stole the show in a dazzling display as England triumphed over China, securing their spot in the last 16 of the 2023 Women’s World Cup as group winners.
The European champions lived up to their reputation, and James shone brightly once again in Adelaide. The crowd of 13,497 was treated to a spectacle as the Chelsea star scored two sensational goals and provided three assists.
England got off to a perfect start when James set up Alessia Russo for the opening goal. Later, she displayed her finesse, slipping a perfect pass to Lauren Hemp, who calmly placed the ball into the bottom corner.
England’s dominance continued, and James herself fired a brilliant shot from the edge of the box, finding the corner of the net to make it 3-0. Although another of her stunning finishes was ruled out by VAR for offside, it didn’t deter England’s momentum.
In the second half, China fought back with more aggression, scoring from the penalty spot through Shuang Wang after a VAR handball decision against defender Lucy Bronze.
However, James wasn’t finished yet. She volleyed Jess Carter’s deep cross into the goal, adding England’s fourth. Chloe Kelly and Rachel Daly then joined the scoring spree to seal the emphatic victory.
England’s impressive performance during the group stage didn’t go unnoticed, and they’ve certainly caught the attention of spectators.
Their next challenge will be facing Nigeria in the last-16 match, set to be aired live on BBC One at 20:30 BST on Monday.
Unfortunately, China’s journey in the competition comes to an end after Denmark secured the second-place spot in Group D with a victory against Haiti.
England’s display showcased their potential as serious contenders in the Women’s World Cup, and fans worldwide are eagerly anticipating their next clash to see if they can continue their impressive run.