Genius Lauren James takes over Women’s World Cup — but England must learn from rivals

08/01/2023

Part of that, though, was through the commanding competence of Wiegman. She may have found another solution.

It shouldn’t be overlooked that the England manager went into this campaign with more issues to solve than all of those fancied sides. They were here missing Keira Walsh, to go alongside Leah Williamson and Beth Mead.

And yet it might have led to a formation that just fits. Having worked on a few different systems in the last few days, Wiegman opted for the 3-5-2 that really stood out for the players. It seemed to address most of their flaws while adding to their strengths. With a reshaped midfield led by the increasingly important Georgia Stanway – conspicuously taken off at half-time due to her yellow card from the opening game – England were much more difficult to open up. There were none of the sudden breaks that made the previous two 1-0 wins so fraught.

It also offered security for England’s attackers to cut loose. Three of the players who needed goals got them, in Alessia Russo, Lauren Hemp and – eventually, with a driving late strike – Rachel Daly.

The Hemp goal may not have had the bombast of either of James’s, or even Daly’s, but it was perhaps the most significant so far in that it was not a piece of genius out of nothing. It is a fluid team movement, Millie Bright bursting through, James flicking it on and Hemp taking it on in such a smooth manner to slide it past Zhu Yu in one moment. Wondrous.

Sarina Wiegman celebrates another England goal with coaching staff

It was still James that bestrode the stage, though, in a display that represented such an exciting escalation from her match-winning performance against Denmark. It was actually quite satisfying in how you can so clearly see a player getting better with more comfort, now flying on the sort of trajectory that is a tradition for triumphant young players coming into their own in a tournament. She may yet make this World Cup her own.

Her three strikes were themselves an escalation in quality, the only pity being the second of those was ruled out. She certainly isn’t afraid to let fly from distance, which is another dangerous weapon for England. It offers an out in any situation.

But the third goal emphasised she can offer genius in any situation. As inviting as that dropping ball from Jess Carter was for James’s second goal, it still takes a lot to get right. It wasn’t just right, it was perfect.

Lauren James and Rachel Daly celebrate

It would have added up to a perfect close to the group for England, especially after how difficult it had been, but for one blemish. Mary Earps has now conceded a goal, albeit from a somewhat debatable penalty decision maximised by Wang Shuang. The irony was, of course, this was the most secure England have looked.

A much sterner threat is to come. England need only look at the fate of both Australia and Canada to stave off any complacency at the fact they are facing neither. Nigeria beat the former to make the hosts’ group stage much more nervy than it might have been, and ultimately eliminated Canada.

Genius Lauren James takes over Women’s World Cup — but England must learn from rivals

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