Unstoppable England Secures Dominant 6-1 Victory against China, Led by Sensational Lauren James

Lauren James played a crucial role in nearly every England goal as the Lionesses clinched first place in Group D at the Women's World Cup with a dominant 6-1 victory over China. This impressive win now sets up a last-16 match against Nigeria. All attention was focused on Sarina Wiegman's starting lineup, especially with the absence of the injured Keira Walsh in midfield. The team's formation had been a mystery to many, but as the game began, it became apparent that Wiegman had abandoned the 4-3-3 formation in favor of a 3-5-2 setup.

Despite increased defensive reinforcements on the field to compensate for Walsh's absence, England exhibited their most dynamic and high-scoring performance of the tournament thus far, with James leading the charge.

Her superb play resulted in assists for the first goals by Alessia Russo (4) and Lauren Hemp (26), followed by an exceptional goal of her own (41), propelling the Lionesses to a commanding 3-0 lead in the first half.

England could have scored four goals before the break as well, but James' second equally impressive goal was disallowed by VAR due to an offside against Lucy Bronze. The only downside for England in the evening in Adelaide was conceding their first goal of the tournament. China was awarded a penalty after VAR penalized Bronze again, this time for handball. Shanshan Wang successfully converted the penalty, making it seem like the Chinese were gaining momentum, but their advantage was short-lived.

James (65) showcased his exceptional skills once again, reestablishing a comfortable three-goal advantage for England. In a stroke of misfortune for China, Yu Zhu, their goalkeeper, misinterpreted a long pass from James, granting Chloe Kelly (77) the opportunity to effortlessly find the back of the net. The exciting turn of events quickly gained attention on Twitter.

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England scored a goal after James was substituted, as Rachel Daly (84) scored her first goal of the tournament. The Lionesses dominated the game and seem to be finding their rhythm just in time for the knockout stages. Following the match, James expressed her excitement, stating, "It's another unforgettable day, everyone is filled with enthusiasm and we are excited for the upcoming round."

"I experience a sense of liberation, whether I am positioned on the sidelines or at the heart of the action. The sheer joy of being present on the field, actively involved in playing football, overwhelms me. Additionally, I derive immense satisfaction from being able to make significant contributions towards scoring goals."

In their upcoming match, scheduled for Monday at 8:30 am in Brisbane, they will be up against Nigeria in the last 16 stage. Conversely, China, for the first time in the history of the Women's World Cup, has failed to advance beyond the group stage.

How England cruised into the last 16

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Lauren Hemp celebrates after doubling England's lead against China in the Women's World Cup

England opened the scoring within four minutes with their initial attempt. A collaboration between Hemp, James, and Russo occurred on the right side, with the Arsenal striker ultimately taking a touch and delivering a powerful low shot past Zhu.

As expected, England secured a second goal shortly before the 30-minute mark. Millie Bright, displaying her top form after recovering from injury, received the ball in midfield and seamlessly threaded it to James. James, in turn, found Hemp making a run between the defenders, who calmly slotted the ball into the back of the net.

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James added another stunning goal to her tally just before half-time, despite her transition from wing to midfield. Alex Greenwood skillfully redirected a free kick to the winger near the top of the penalty area, and she confidently slotted the ball past the goalkeeper with a low, curling shot, reminiscent of her match-winning goal against Denmark.

In the dying moments of the game, James once again displayed her brilliance by curling home a sensational goal after receiving an excellent setup from Bronze. Unfortunately, the goal was disallowed after a lengthy review by VAR, as Bronze was judged to be in an offside position when the initial ball was played in.

VAR penalized Bronze again for handball as a China corner was played in right after the break. Following a lengthy review where the referee consulted the monitor again, Wang expertly found the back of the net, causing Mary Earps to concede her first goal of the tournament.

However, just as China was starting to settle into the game, James delivered yet another moment of brilliance to extend England's lead to three goals. Jess Carter skillfully played a fantastic diagonal ball to the back post, and James smoothly chipped it in with her first touch, resulting in another remarkable finish.

England did not require any additional invitations to score once again. However, Zhu's defensive blunder provided just that opportunity. She intended to collect James' long pass, but failed to reach it, allowing Kelly, who was lurking nearby, to easily score into the open net.

The Lionesses also demonstrated their ability to score without James. In the closing stages, Daly added a sixth goal. Kelly swiftly delivered a pass across the goalmouth, where the leading scorer of the WSL was waiting at the back post to confidently fire the ball home. England comfortably progressed into the last 16.

Wiegman: James did special things

"I'm very delighted, it shows how adaptive this team is and I think they are enjoying themselves on the pitch.

"[Lauren James] is visibly in high spirits, evident from her outstanding performance today. Although one of her moves was nullified, she showcased remarkable agility on the field.

"We anticipated China to apply pressure as they needed a victory to advance. However, we maintained our composure and stuck to our game plan, leaving them unable to counter our strategic approach."

"I was eager to experiment with different individuals on the field, granting Katie Zelem the freedom to operate in the midfield and generate numerous scoring chances. Moreover, it proved highly effective when Lucy Bronze and Rachel Daly aggressively advanced forward, both in possession and without it. This tactic undoubtedly yielded successful results today."

James: I'm looking to improve each day

"Upon considering the previous game, I pondered, 'Why not give it a shot and observe the outcome?'

"Every day, my aim is to enhance my skills and strive for progress. There are numerous years ahead for growth, and I can continuously enhance my abilities. Maintaining focus is crucial, and I hope to achieve this."

What's next?

What is the schedule?

Scheduled for August 11 and 12, the quarter-finals will be hosted in Wellington, Auckland, Brisbane, and Sydney.

The first semi-final is scheduled to take place in Auckland on August 15, while the other semi-final will be held on August 16 at the Accor Stadium in Sydney. The final will then be hosted by the Accor Stadium on August 20. Preceding the final, a third-place play-off is set to be played on August 19 in Brisbane.