Women’s World Cup 2023

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      Women’s World Cup makes history with huge VAR change but Alex Scott says ‘it’s like being in the Hunger Games’

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      THE Women’s World Cup made history with a VAR decision announced by the referee to the stadium for the first time.But Alex Scott joked it was like something out of the Hunger Games.
      Referee Yoshimi Yamashita confirmed her VAR decision to the whole stadiumCredit: Getty
      The Japanese official checked the monitorCredit: AFP

      Fifa made the decision for the tournament in New Zealand and Australia to allow referees to announce the calls.
      And in the very first match of the tournament, Yoshimi Yamashita had the chance to make the most of the new protocols.
      With just three minutes to go before full-time, Caroline Graham Hansen appeared to handle the ball although initially play carried on.
      But Yamashita was advised to take a look at a replay on the pitch-side monitor before deciding a penalty was the correct decision.
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      And when the Japanese official had made up her mind, she announced through her microphone at the Eden Park stadium PA system: “After an on-field review, the decision is: penalty.”
      The announcement was met by delighted cheers from the New Zealand players and the hosts’ home crowd – although Ria Percival hit the bar before the Football Ferns held on for a shock 1-0 win over 1995 champions Norway.

      But Alex Scott in the BBC studio could not help but compare the ref’s booming voice to the Hunger Games.
      The former Arsenal and England defender said: “I couldn’t help but laugh.
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      “I felt like I was in the Hunger Games.”
      Others were delighted by the progression to keep fans in the loop – but many felt more still needs to be done.
      One said: “Great step in the right direction. Let’s people know what is going on. VAR in the men’s game is far too “cloak and dagger” with fans in the stadium and watching on TV having no clue how decisions are made.”
      Another added: “Good step in the right direction but we need to hear the conversation between room and ref.”
      A third wrote: “We don’t want an announcement, we want to hear the discussions with the VAR officials.”
      And a final user wrote: “I was expecting to hear the referee’s reasoning behind the decision, as we do in cricket, rugby, NFL etc. This is absolutely laughable.”
      Ria Percival crashed her effort against the crossbarCredit: Getty More

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      Women’s World Cup poster girl RULED OUT of first two matches in huge injury blow

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      AUSTRALIA have been dealt a devastating blow with skipper Sam Kerr to miss their first two World Cup games due to injury.The Matildas hotshot hurt her calf in training before the tournament co-host’s showpiece opener against the Republic of Ireland kicking off at 11:00am UK time. 
      Sam Kerr is out of the first two games of the World CupCredit: Getty
      Kerr watches team-mates after being ruled out with a calf injuryCredit: AP
      And the injury means that Kerr, who is Australia’s all-time record goalscorer, will miss her team’s Group B clash with Nigeria next Thursday.
      The Matildas’ duel with Vera Pauw’s side at Stadium Australia in Sydney comes hours after New Zealand stunned Norway in Auckland.
      The Football Ferns subjected their opponents to a surprise 1-0 defeat in Group A at Eden Park in the first game of this summer’s tournament.
      Hannah Wilkinson netted the only goal of the game with Tottenham’s Ria Percival missing a penalty for the Kiwis.
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      The match took place hours after a shooting that occurred just TWO miles away from Eden Park, the national stadium of tournament co-hosts New Zealand.
      The incident, which happened in the early hours of this morning, left two people and a gunman dead.
      Players from both nations paid tribute to victims of the shooting with a minute’s silence on the pitch ahead of the game. 
      Taking to Instagram on her injury, Kerr wrote: “Unfortunately I sustained a calf injury yesterday in training.
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      “I wanted to share this with everyone so there is no distraction from us doing what we came here to achieve.
      “Of course I would have loved to have been out there tonight but I can’t wait to be a part of this amazing journey which starts now.”
      A statement from team Australia’s Twitter page added: “Sam Kerr is unavailable tonight after she picked up a calf injury at training on matchday minus-one.

      “Sam will be unavailable for the next two matches with the Matildas medical team to re-assess her following our second group-stage match.”
      Kerr, 29, scored 29 goals in 38 appearances for Chelsea last season, including 12 as the Blues retained the Women’s Super League ahead of Manchester United. More

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      New Zealand 1 Norway 0: Hosts make history with first World Cup win EVER including the men’s team

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      HOST nation New Zealand made history on home soil by winning their first-ever World Cup match against 12th-ranked Norway.In a game where they were perhaps viewed as the underdogs, the Football Ferns dominated their disjointed opponents from the off while being roared on by 40,000 fans.
      Wilkinson’s second-half strike secured the win for New ZealandCredit: Getty
      Hannah Wilkinson’s second-half strike – which was the final product of a phenomenal passage of team play – was all that separated the two teams at the final whistle.
      New Zealand had the opportunity to extend their advantage late in the game, but Ria Percival’s penalty – which was awarded in a historic VAR check following a handball from Tuva Hansen – rattled the crossbar, leaving the host nation shaken with nerves as the clock ticked down.
      But they held on – just about. Norway had a few chances of their own, arguably the best coming from a close-range Frida Maanum strike, but each of them were ultimately wasted in the end.
      For Norway, it was supposed to be a fresh start following last year’s European Championship disappointment.
      Prior to the match, Caroline Graham Hansen emphasised that her teammates wanted to capitalise on the opportunity to progress further in the tournament.
      But if today was anything to go by, they could be left disappointed once again.

      RESULT: New Zealand 1-0 Norway
      FREE live stream: BBC iPlayer
      TV channel: BBC One
      New Zealand XI: Esson; Bott, Bowen, Ashley Stott, Riley; Hassett, Percival, Steinmetz; Paige Riley, Wilkinson, Hand
      Norway XI: Mikalsen; Bjelde, Mjelde, Harviken, Hansen; Engen, Maanum, Reiten; Graham Hansen, Hagerbeg, Blakstad

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      Follow all the action with our live blog below…
      Full Time – New Zealand 1-0 Norway
      Norway will be bitterly disappointed with that performance.
      Far too many mistakes were made and New Zealand were quick to capitalise.
      The likes of Frida Maanum, Ada Hegerberg, Caroline Graham Hansen and Guro Reiten barely made an impact as the Grasshoppers struggled to create many goalscoring opportunities.
      Credit: Reuters
      Full Time – New Zealand 1-0 Norway
      What a performance from the hosts!
      They completely dominated from the off while being cheered on by 40,000 fans.
      Eden Park is bouncing with the energy of thousands of locals – this will surely be a night they’ll never forget.
      Credit: Getty
      Full Time – New Zealand 1-0 Norway
      They’ve done it!
      New Zealand have won their first-ever World Cup match!
      Eden Park is bouncing!
      Credit: Reuters
      90+5. New Zealand 1-0 Norway
      Esson is almost caught out by a wayward cross/shot from Haavi, but the ball narrowly loops over the crossbar.
      90+3. New Zealand 1-0 Norway
      Bjelde has been forced off with an injury.
      She has been replaced by Sonstevold.
      90. New Zealand 1-0 Norway
      Percival misses the spot kick!
      The ball rattles the crossbar!
      Nine minutes have been added on, we’re in for a dramatic ending!
      Credit: Getty
      87. New Zealand 1-0 Norway
      PENALTY FOR NEW ZEALAND!
      After a VAR check, the referee awards the hosts with a penalty for a handball on Hansen in the box!
      86. New Zealand 1-0 Norway
      Another change for New Zealand as we approach the final few minutes of the match.
      Wilkinson makes way for Satchell.
      The striker receives an incredible reception from the crowd at Eden Park.
      81. New Zealand 1-0 Norway
      Norway come close to levelling the score!
      They’ve struggled to make the most of their chances so far in this game, but this is by far the closest the Grasshoppers have come to scoring.
      The ball is set to Hansen on the edge of the box, who unleashes a powerful strike.
      It looks to be heading into the top corner, but Esson gets her fingertips to the ball to deflect it onto the crossbar!
      76. New Zealand 1-0 Norway
      Wilkinson is sent through on goal again.
      She turns to hold the ball up before setting it back to Percival, who unleashes a powerful shot from the edge of the box, but her effort flies wide.
      74. New Zealand 1-0 Norway
      Another change for Norway.
      Boe Risa is on to replace Maanum.
      70. New Zealand 1-0 Norway
      New Zealand make their first change.
      Stott is replaced by Bunge.
      67. New Zealand 1-0 Norway
      Haavi picks up the ball in midfield and carries it down the left before attempting to cross it into the box, but her pass flies out for a goal kick.
      Another chance wasted for Norway.
      62. New Zealand 1-0 Norway
      Norway go for goal again as Hegerberg receives the ball on the left and plays a short pass to Graham Hansen in the box.
      But the winger gets the ball stuck under her feet and Stott tracks back to make the tackle.
      59. New Zealand 1-0 Norway
      Huge chance for Norway!
      Maanum receives the ball on the edge of the six-yard box and goes for goal, but her shot runs wide!
      Credit: AP
      56. New Zealand 1-0 Norway
      Norway make a change.
      Blakstad is replaced by Haavi.
      53. New Zealand 1-0 Norway
      VAR check!
      The officials took a minute to check for a potential handball from Harviken in the box, but nothing is given.
      49. New Zealand 1-0 Norway
      The ball is sent through to Hand on the right, who drives down the wing before squaring it to Wilkinson.
      The striker is left completely free in the box and fires the ball past Mikalsen and into the back of the net.
      What a way to open a home tournament!
      Credit: Getty
      48. GOOOAAAAAAAALLLLLLLL NEW ZEALAND!
      The hosts break the deadlock!
      Kick Off – New Zealand 0-0 Norway
      We’re back underway!
      Half Time – New Zealand 0-0 Norway
      Norway will be disappointed with that first half display.
      Far too many players were sloppy on the ball, causing a lack of possession.
      And the likes of Maanum, Reiten and Hegerberg were kept quiet throughout, minimising the team’s goal threat.
      Hege Riise may have to change things at the break.
      Credit: Reuters
      Half Time – New Zealand 0-0 Norway
      New Zealand have certainly had the better chances so far in this game, but the deadlock is yet to be broken.
      Credit: Getty
      44. New Zealand 0-0 Norway
      Huge chance for New Zealand just before half time as Hand flicks a first time pass through to Wilkinson, who makes an excellent run into the box.
      The striker winds up her shot, but Bjelde makes a last-gasp challenge to steer the ball clear.
      40. New Zealand 0-0 Norway
      Norway attempt an attack as Riley picks up the ball on the right.
      She sends it inside to Wilkinson, who turns and sets it back out to Hand on the left, but Graham Hansen tracks back to make the tackle before the winger reaches the final third.
      37. New Zealand 0-0 Norway
      Norway finally get another look-in at goal as Graham Hansen drives down the right before squaring the ball to Hegerberg on the penalty spot.
      The striker looks to take her shot first time, but Stott makes a fantastic last-ditch tackle to make the block.
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      England’s Lionesses ready to roar again as Women’s World Cup kicks off Down Under

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      THE Lionesses are ready to roar again as the Women’s World Cup kicks off Down Under.England’s footballing queens of Europe begin their bid to become world champions with a Group D match against Haiti at 10.30am on Saturday.
      Manchester City striker Chloe Kelly and teammate Alex Greenwood are gunning for glory Down UnderCredit: Getty
      Lauren James and Lucy Bronze also got in on the photoshoot funCredit: Getty
      Millie Bright, pictured alongside Rachel Daly, takes the captain’s armband from injured Leah WilliamsonCredit: Getty
      Manager Sarina Wiegman’s squad also face first-round clashes with China and Denmark.
      Among the stars gunning for glory in Australia and New Zealand are Manchester City striker Chloe Kelly and teammate Alex Greenwood.
      Millie Bright takes the captain’s armband from injured Leah Williamson.
      Bright was pictured making peace signs alongside left-back Rachel Daly.
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      Lauren James and Lucy Bronze also got in on the photoshoot fun — and keeper Hannah Hampton showed why she is a safe pair of hands in goal.
      Bronze has said the team feels empowered to improve standards in the women’s game after a bust-up with the FA over performance-related pay.
      A letter signed by all 24 members of the squad said: “We are disappointed that a resolution has still not been achieved.
      “We view the successful conclusions of these discussions, through player input and a transparent long-term plan, as key for the growth of women’s football in England.”
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      Keeper Hannah Hampton showed why she is a safe pair of hands in goalCredit: Getty
      Manager Sarina Wiegman’s squad face first-round clashes with Haiti, China and DenmarkCredit: GettyHERE FOR OUR GIRLS

      FOOTIE superfan Andy Milne has arrived in Australia for his first Women’s World Cup.
      The retired teacher — a dead ringer for ex-Three Lions boss Steve McLaren — claims to have attended every men’s World Cup since he was 19, and is now looking forward to his first women’s tournament.
      Andy, from Northwich, Cheshire, joined supporters for selfies near Sydney Harbour Bridge.
      Speaking ahead of kick-off, he said: “Football is coming home.” More

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      England Lionesses get their kits off as they strip down to lingerie for incredible campaign to keep girls in sport

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      ENGLAND Lionesses have stripped down to their lingerie for an incredible campaign aiming to keep girls in sport.Current and former Three Lions players have taken their kit off to support Bluebella lingerie’s #StrongIsBeautiful campaign.
      England Lionesses, including Fara Williams, have stripped down to their lingerie for an incredible campaignCredit: Bluebellla/ Cavendish Press (Man
      Reanna Blades is among the England stars aiming to keep girls in sportCredit: Bluebellla/ Cavendish Press (Man
      Williams has teamed up with Bluebella lingerieCredit: Bluebellla/ Cavendish Press (Man
      The brand is hoping to encourage teenage girls not to drop out of school.
      New research from Women In Sport shows that 64 per cent of secondary school girls stop playing sport before they turn 16.
      This is in part down to insecurities about their bodies during puberty.
      England’s most capped female player Fara Williams and under-19 international Reanna Blades have endorsed the campaign.
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      The pair have posed in lingerie in a bid to encourage girls to be proud of their bodies and to keep playing team sports.
      Williams won 177 caps for the Lionesses during her 18-year international career, scoring 40 goals from midfield in that time.
      She also played at the 2012 Olympics for Team GB, as well as at seven major tournaments for England.
      Those included three World Cups, with Williams’ extra-time penalty at the 2015 tournament securing a third place finish for England.
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      Chelsea’s Reanna Blades is also involved in the campaignCredit: Bluebellla/ Cavendish Press (Man
      Fara Williams and Reanna Blades are aiming to encourage girls to be proud in their bodiesCredit: Bluebellla/ Cavendish Press (Man

      Since retiring in 2021, she has gone into a career in sports media, appearing as a pundit.
      As for Blades, the 18-year-old forward currently plays for Chelsea and has also represented England at youth level.
      The Lionesses are set to begin their World Cup campaign against Haiti in Brisbane on Saturday morning.
      Sarina Wiegman’s side will then face Denmark before concluding the group stage against China on August 1.
      The campaign has been launched ahead of the Women’s World CupCredit: Bluebellla/ Cavendish Press (Man
      Fara Williams is England’s most capped female playerCredit: Bluebellla/ Cavendish Press (Man More

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      Chelsea star Ann-Katrin Berger beat cancer twice – now she’s heading to the World Cup and could face her Lioness partner

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      NOT many players can say that they’ve represented their country at a World Cup.Even fewer can say that they’ve done so off the back of a double-winning season.
      Ann-Katrin Berger is at the World Cup with GermanyCredit: Getty
      The goalkeeper was diagnosed with thyroid cancer last year during Euro 2022Credit: Getty
      She returned to the Chelsea squad in SeptemberCredit: Getty
      But only one will be able to say that they’ve done all of the above after beating cancer… twice.
      Chelsea goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger has enjoyed some of the highest of highs throughout her playing career, but she has also had to endure some terrible lows.
      In November 2017, just over one year into her spell with Birmingham City, she was diagnosed with thyroid cancer.
      Despite her devastating diagnosis, Berger was determined to continue playing football.
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      She even earned a spot in the PFA Team of the Year at the end of the 2017-18 campaign, just two months after recovering.
      And the following year, she made a huge move to Women’s Super League giants Chelsea.
      Career-wise, the 32-year-old is at the top of her game, having won four WSL titles, three FA Cups and two Continental Cups with the Blues.
      Berger’s incredible form saw her earn a place in Germany’s Euro 2022 squad last summer, but her immense joy – after being called up for her first major tournament – was marred when she found out that her cancer had returned following four years in remission.
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      She has since recovered and helped Chelsea to the WSL title and another FA Cup winCredit: Getty
      Berger received support from her international teammates last SeptemberCredit: Getty
      The goalkeeper told Sky Sports in November: “It had actually started at the beginning of July.
      “We came [together] with the German national team [for the Euros] on July 3 and my yearly appointment was on July 5.
      “It was a little bit of a weird feeling because it was the last one of the normal appointments, but then the blood samples came back negative in thyroid cancer language.
      “Whilst the Euros were still ongoing, I had to do some other tests and the next step after the blood test. Most of the time, it was ultrasounds so they’re checking any lymph nodes or unusual things and that was one week after.
      “After that, I started to wonder what was going on because sometimes, the bloods can go up and down, that’s a normal thing, especially with athletes when hormones and everything are different.
      “But then after the ultrasound, they called me again and I had to go in and they took a biopsy as well. Then I was like ‘Ok, something bad is going on’, but I still wanted to carry on with football.
      “At that point, we’d finished the group stages and I wanted to keep it to myself. Obviously close ones, my family and everything, they started to know something was wrong but at that time, my team didn’t know because they had to focus on the Euros.
      “I know how to deal with it because I’ve been there before so that’s why I started to keep it to myself. The doctors gave me the all-clear to train as normal and said there wouldn’t be any problems.”
      Berger waited until the latter stages of Euro 2022 to inform her international teammates of her diagnosis, simply because she wanted to enjoy the tournament as much as possible.
      She added: “It was a difficult moment, but I kept it a little bit more quiet. I wanted to enjoy the Euros for myself because that kept me going – it actually was just nice to do something and not feel sorry for yourself.”
      In August, Berger announced to the world that her cancer had returned.
      In a statement on social media, she wrote: “I wanted to update fans directly that unfortunately, after four years of living cancer-free, there has been a recurrence detected in my thyroid.”
      Despite the devastating setback, she remarkably returned to action just over a month later, featuring in Chelsea’s WSL clash against Manchester City.
      And in March she was hailed as a hero after saving two penalties which subsequently sent the Blues through to the Champions League semi-final.
      Four months on from that electric evening at Stamford Bridge, Berger is now in Australia and New Zealand for her first World Cup.
      The goalkeeper has already lifted the WSL trophy and the FA Cup this year, but now she has her sights firmly set on arguably the biggest accolade in football.
      The goalkeeper is dating England defender Jess CarterCredit: Getty
      Carter is in the England squad for the World CupCredit: Getty
      However, in order to win the World Cup, Berger and her Germany teammates will have to get past European champions England.
      And that means the goalkeeper will have to better her girlfriend, and Chelsea teammate, Jess Carter.
      The couple started dating in 2017 and they now live together in London.
      But while they represent two different nations, there is little-to-no rivalry between them.
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      In an interview with The Guardian last year, Carter said: “There wasn’t really any direct competition [during the Euros] because we are both really chilled people.”
      Germany kick off their World Cup campaign against Morocco on July 24, while England face Haiti on July 22nd.
      The couple have been dating since 2021Credit: Alamy More

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      Inside the Lionesses’ bizarre superstition that helped them win Euro 2022 as they now target World Cup 2023 glory

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      BEHIND every successful team is a great manager, a flawless philosophy and a relentless work ethic.There is also the odd superstition.
      England won Euro 2022 at Wembley last summerCredit: Getty
      The Lionesses are now hoping to replicate that success at the World CupCredit: PA
      England had all of the above when they stormed to European Championship glory last summer.
      Sarina Wiegman united a squad, and that squad gradually united a nation when the Lionesses edged through each round of Euro 2022, first defeating Austria, Norway and Northern Ireland in the group stages before seeing off Spain in the quarter-finals and Sweden in the semi-finals.
      They then capped off an unforgettable month with a 2-1 win over bitter rivals Germany in the final, thanks to goals from Ella Toone and Chloe Kelly.
      But after lifting that glorious glass trophy under the iconic Wembley arch – and basking in the celebrations – attention quickly turned to the next big challenge – the World Cup.
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      A year has since passed and the Lionesses are now preparing to do it all over again, this time in Australia and New Zealand.
      But while the team looks slightly different – with Leah Williamson, Beth Mead and Fran Kirby absent due to injury – Wiegman and her squad are approaching this year’s World Cup with a similar mindset.

      They are even prepared to replicate one key superstition that helped them to victory last summer.
      England midfielder Georgia Stanway has revealed that it became a tradition for all players to NOT pack their suitcases during the Euros, even when they had to leave their base hotel.
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      The 24-year-old told FourFourTwo magazine: “That was something we really enjoyed doing: not packing our suitcases, leaving our stuff exactly where it was.
      “It was never really spoken about, but for every matchday minus one, we would travel to a different hotel, and it became tradition to leave everything unpacked at our base hotel.
      “It was where all of our clothes were and where everything was unpacked.
      “We had made the rooms our own and made it the Lionesses’ hotel, and there was always a bit of: ‘Are we taking our bags?’
      “But it became normal to leave them because we knew we were coming back.
      “That meant we were coming back for the final.”
      AUSSIE BASE
      England are based at the Crowne Plaza Terrigal Pacific Hotel for the World Cup, a four-star complex on the Central Coast of New South Wales, Australia.
      The Lionesses took a 90-minute flight to Brisbane from their base camp on Sunday ahead of their opening match against Haiti on Thursday.
      After the match, they will return to their base hotel for their second group game against Denmark.
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      The England team will then fly another two hours to Adelaide, where they will take on China.
      Fully expect their bags at base camp to remain unpacked throughout – and hopefully up until the final on August 20.
      Hannah Hampton  with her bag packedCredit: PA
      The team left their camp in Windsor before flying to AustraliaCredit: PA
      Stanway has revealed that it became tradition for the Lionesses not to pack their suitcases during Euro 2022Credit: Getty More

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      Lauren James trained with Arsenal’s senior team at just 14 but was kicked out after complaints from players

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      CHELSEA forward Lauren James is set to take the Women’s World Cup by storm this summer.The 21-year-old, who is now a regular in Sarina Wiegman’s England team, first burst onto the scene when she made her professional debut for Arsenal in 2017.
      James will make her World Cup debut with England this summerCredit: Getty
      The forward is one of the best young players in the WSLCredit: Getty
      But prior to her first Women’s Super League outing, she endured a turbulent time in North London.
      James’ dad, Nigel, has revealed that she was promoted to train with the Arsenal women’s first team at the age of just 14, but some senior players took issue with her involvement.
      In an interview with The Beautiful Game podcast, Nigel said: “She was too good to train with the Arsenal girls when she first went there.
      “So Arsenal tried something, Pedro (Martinez Losa) who was the coach at the time, brought her in to train with the women.
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      “She was probably about 14 at the time. She stayed in her digs for a couple of nights and they got a tutor to teach her, so she trained with the women.
      “It was all good hearing it, but your 14 year-old daughter is now training with women who are 35, 28, they were grown women.
      “So when you are on the pitch it is football, but off the pitch they had nothing in common.
      “What people would see is this little girl. Some could take it and put their arm around her and some couldn’t take it and said ‘you shouldn’t be here, you should be at school.’
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      “She (Lauren) would pick up the good bits from someone and then the negative parts from others.
      “The manager left, another manager came in. There was a game she played in where the manager let her take a penalty. She took the penalty, but the next day senior players didn’t like it at the time.”
      Despite James’ outstanding ability and potential, some Arsenal players even requested that she was removed from first team training due to her age.
      The forward’s dad added: “They then asked for Lauren to be removed from the first team squad at Arsenal and to go back in the academy, but the solution was she train with the academy boys.
      “This had never happened before so it was a big thing. Some parents didn’t like it.
      “But she was superb and did very well. At the end of the season when she was 15-and-a-half, Arsenal then said you won’t be with the women, you’ll play with the academy girls. I saw her playing with girls her own age as sort of a demotion.
      “That is why we needed to leave.”
      After leaving Arsenal, James joined Manchester United in July 2018.
      She made her club debut in a Women’s Championship match the following month and went on to help the Red Devils achieve promotion to the WSL.
      James, the younger sister of Chelsea star Reece, then spent two more years in Manchester before joining the Blues in 2021.
      She has since won two WSL titles and three FA Cups.
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      The forward will take part in her first major tournament this summer with England.
      She narrowly missed out on a place in Wiegman’s European Campionship-winning squad last summer before making her international debut in September.
      Prior to her WSL debut, James endured a mixed experience at ArsenalCredit: Getty More