In a masterful display, England secured their spot in the FIFA Women’s World Cup knockout stages, propelled by the exceptional performance of Lauren James, as they triumphed with an impressive 6-1 victory over China.
“We showed our determination and skill, and it feels fantastic to be heading to the knockout stages,” said England coach Sarina Wiegman, expressing her delight at the team’s achievement of becoming the first nation in the tournament’s history to score in 16 consecutive matches.
Facing a resilient China side, who were eager to prove their mettle after a narrow victory over Haiti, England wasted no time in asserting their dominance. Just four minutes into the match, Alessia Russo capitalized on a clever assist from Lauren James to net her first goal of the tournament.
“China may have posed a challenge, but we knew what we had to do, and we did it well,” said James, highlighting the team’s determination to overcome any obstacles.
With just a point needed to secure their qualification to the knockout stages, England continued to control the game as the first half unfolded.
The midfield duo of Katie Zelem and Georgia Stanway shone brightly, orchestrating the play and injecting excitement with their new-look partnership.
A second goal came before the half-hour mark, as Millie Bright and Lauren James combined effectively, setting up Lauren Hemp to confidently finish past Yu Zhu and extend England’s lead.
China coach Shui Qingxia acknowledged England’s dominant display, admitting, “They were a formidable opponent, not an easy piece of cake for us,” as she praised the Lionesses’ performance.
With this spectacular victory, England showcased their prowess on the World Cup stage, and their fans can look forward to more thrilling performances as they progress further in the tournament.
Armed with a two-goal advantage, the Lionesses showed no signs of slowing down before HT, and their positive approach was rewarded when James swept in a brilliant third from the edge of the box, giving England a commanding lead at the interval.
That goal looked to have put China on the brink of elimination, but the Steel Roses were handed a lifeline early in the second half when Lucy Bronze was adjudged to have handled in the box, allowing Wang Shuang to step up and convert from the spot.
Determined to reassert their control in the contest, England quickly restored their three-goal cushion as Jess Carer found James at the back post, who guided a sublime first-time volley into the far corner.
A statement performance from the European champions continued to deliver right up until the final whistle, with Chloe Kelly and Rachel Daly adding late gloss to the scoreline, as the Lionesses finished top of Group D with three wins from three, setting up a last-16 clash with Nigeria.