ENGLAND are heading for the knockout stages of the Women’s World Cup after cruising to victory against China.
Alessia Russo put the Lionesses ahead after just four minutes on the clock.
Lauren Hemp doubled Sarina Wiegman’s side lead before Lauren James scored a stunning brace.
Chloe Kelly and Rachel Daly were also on the scoresheet as the Lionesses cruise to the last-16.
- Match result: England 6-1 China
- TV channel: ITV
- FREE live stream: ITVX
- England team: Earps, Bronze, Greenwood, Bright, James, Stanway, Daly, Hemp, Carter, Zelem, Russo
- China team: Yu, Qiaozhu, Wei, Mengwen, Shanshan, Linyan, Shuang, Lina, Lingwei, Jiahui, Chengshu
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England secured their spot at the top of Group D with a sensational 6-1 win over China.
The Lionesses will now face Nigeria in the Round-of-16.
Denmark also advanced to the knockout stages following their 2-0 win over Haiti and will now face Australia.
It’s been a day to remember for England, but there is still so much more to come.
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Laur the One
Today, Lauren James became the first England player to be directly involved in at least five goals in a game at a Men’s or Women’s World Cup.
Credit: Getty Sarina Wiegman reacts
Speaking to ITV, the England boss said: “I said before the game we had to do things a little different than we did before. We did really well it shows how adaptive we are on the pitch.
“Today it went really well. We want to use the qualities we have now and today it worked really well.”
“She [Lauren James] feels good, you can tell. She did special things today. Unfortunately that one goal was cancelled. She flows over the pitch.
“We expected China to press high because they had to win to go through. But they just stayed in shape. They didn’t expect us to play this way and they didn’t find a solution.
“It also helps when Lucy Bronze and Rachel Daly can press up in and out of possession. They worked well today.”
Credit: Reuters
Katie Zelem reacts
Following her World Cup debut, Katie Zelem told BBC Radio 5 Live: “You could see by the smiles on our faces how we felt. It looked like a lot of things had come together that we had been working on on the training pitch came off.”
Speaking about her preparation for the match she added: “We announce the line-ups the night before so I was very excited, my first start for England in any game.
“China were really organised, there wasn’t too much space for me and Georgia [Stanway] in the first half but it allowed players like LJ [Lauren James] to get on the ball and who better to get on the ball in an England shirt than Lauren James?
“I’ve know LJ for a long time, played with her at Manchester United so I’ve known the talent she had so there is no surprise she is playing this well at the tournament and hopefully it will continue.”
Credit: Getty ‘The girls give you them’
England winger Beth Mead, who is currently out of action due to injury, has praised the Lionesses for today’s performance.
She tweeted: “You wanted goals, the girls give you them. What a performance @Lionesses LJ take a bow.”
Lauren James reacts
Speaking to ITV, the England star said: “It’s what dreams are made of. Happy for the team; everyone is buzzing. We are looking forward to the next round
“I felt free. Whether I’m on the wing or in the middle, I’m happy to be playing and contributing to goals.”
She added: “Like last game, I just thought ‘hit it and see what happens’.
“It was frustrating [to have a goal disallowed] but those things happen. I’m just looking forward to the next one.
“Each game, I’m looking to get better and there are many more years of improvement. I just have to stay focused.”
Credit: PA Full Time – China 1-6 England
While the nation was busy worrying about the absence of Keira Walsh, Sarina Wiegman had everything under control.
The England boss made a number of changes today and each one of them paid off to perfection.
Katie Zelem put in a solid shift on her World Cup debut alongside Georgia Stanway in midfield, while Hemp, Russo and James continued to shine in attack.
THIS was the performance England fans had been waiting for.
It took a while, but the Lionesses have finally arrived.
Credit: Reuters Full Time – China 1-6 England
England are through to the round of 16 knockout stage as it ends 6-1 in this devastating win for the Lionesses.
After conceding a penalty in the 56th minute England needed to re-group – of course it was that number seven again to the rescue – Lauren James on the volley cushioned the ball into the top-right corner from a lovely delivery from Carter.
Super-sub Kelly came on and slotted one into an empty net after the keeper mistimed her run out of the box.
England’s sixth of the night came from Rachel Daly – the ball fell to her in the box and she fired it with her laces into the top corner.
Anticipation of how Sarina would replace Keira Walsh was looming in the lead-up to this game but Katie Zelem was calm and collected the whole 101 minutes.
The stage is set – Monday 7th August England will face Nigeria in the round of 16 knockouts.
Full Time – China 1-6 England
England top Group D with an outstanding win over China!
Credit: PA
90+10. China 1-6 England
Coombs attempts an audacious strike from midfield, but her effort flies over the bar.
90+8. China 1-6 England
We’re still in extra time.
England are still winning.
90+3. China 1-6 England
Another two changes for China.
Yao Lingwei is replaced by Dou Jiaxing.
Wu Chengshu is replaced by Shen Mengyu.
90+1. China 1-6 England
11 minutes have been added on.
Yes. You read that right.
85. China 1-6 England
The ball falls to Kelly in the box, who fires a cross to Daly at the far post.
Daly then rifles a volley into the back of the net from 10 yards out.
After a lengthy VAR check for a potential offside, the goal is given!
Credit: Getty 84. GOOOOAAAAAAALLLLLLLLL ENGLAND!!!!
Daly scores the sixth!
78. China 1-5 England
Another change for England.
Toone is on to replace James.
Credit: PA 77. China 1-5 England
China have made some substitutions.
Wang Shuang is replaced by Gu Yasha.
Li Mengwen is replaced by Wu Haiyan.
76. China 1-5 England
James receives the ball in midfield and sends an excellent pass through to Kelly.
Zhu Yu fails to make the save on the edge of the box, so the winger simply runs around the goalkeeper to slot the ball into the empty net.
Credit: Getty 75. GOOOAAAAAAALLLLLL ENGLAND!!!!
Super sub Kelly comes straight off the bench to score!
72. China 1-4 England
Huge chance for the Lionesses as England receives the ball in the box.
Rather than shooting, she sets it to Kelly, but her effort is deflected behind for a corner.
71. China 1-4 England
England make three more changes.
Charles replaces Bronze.
England replaces Russo.
Kelly replaces Hemp.
67. China 1-4 England
The Lionesses go on the attack as James drives down the left before crossing the ball into the penalty area.
It’s headed clear by the China defence and eventually falls to Carter, who picks James out in the box with an excellent cross.
The forward then volleys the ball with the side of her foot straight into the top-right corner!
What a finish!
Credit: Reuters 66. GOOOAAAALLLLLLLLLL ENGLAND!!!!!
LAUREN JAMES! THAT IS PHENOMENAL!
What a strike!
61. China 1-3 England
Yang attempts an audacious strike from distance, but her effort flies over the bar.
An improved performance so far from China.
57. GOOOOAAAAAALLLLLLLLL CHINA!!!!
Wang Shuang converts the penalty!
Credit: PA
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
