Walsh injury mars England win

A 1-0 win over Denmark has England on the verge of a Round of 16 berth but they have lost Keira Walsh to a knee injury.

  • James is England’s second youngest Women’s World Cup goalscorer

  • Denmark still winless against European opposition

  • England keep a clean sheet for sixth time in past eight matches

 

England 1-0 Denmark | Group D

Goalscorers: James (6′)

England have one foot in the Round of 16 after a 1-0 win over Denmark in Sydney. That progression could be confirmed later this evening depending on the result of the other Group B match between China and Haiti.

 

The Lionesses made it back-to-back wins to open their campaign, with Lauren James’ sumptuous sixth minute goal ultimately the difference in front of a huge crowd at the Sydney Football Stadium.

 

It was England who raced out of the blocks as Rachel Daly laid the ball off to 21-year-old James, who stroked a shot home from outside the box past a diving Lene Christensen to become the Lionesses’ second-youngest Women’s World Cup goalscorer.

 

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Although the teams went to the break with that score intact, it was a 38th minute injury to Keira Walsh that could potentially impact England’s campaign as she was stretchered off with what looked to be a serious knee injury.

The Lionesses continued to dominate possession over much of the second, half although it was Denmark with the better of the late chances as firstly Mary Earps pulled off a fingertip save to deny Katrine Veje and then substitute Amalie Vangsgaard crashed an 87th-minute header off the post.

 

The European champions now sit back and wait to see if their progression is confirmed later this evening, while Denmark’s hopes could rest on their final match with Haiti in Perth on Tuesday.

Key stats

Lauren James’ sixth minute goal was the second-fastest for England at a Women’s World Cup, after Jill Scott’s third minute strike against Norway in 2019.

 

VISA Player of the Match

Lauren James (England)

Quotes

“We started well, I think we played well, we scored a goal. The second half was a fight, we adapted to the situation and we really, really had to fight for the win and that’s what we did. I’m very proud of the team.” – Sarina Wiegman, England coach

“I feel a bit sorry for England losing Keira Walsh, I hope it’s not as bad as it looked. That could also be one reason we came back into the game. If we had been good enough, precise enough, we could have punished them before half-time on the counter.” – Lars Sondergaard, Denmark coach.

 

 

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