Lionesses seeking perfect unbeaten start to World Cup

Following a duo of 1-0 victories over Haiti and Denmark, England need to make it an ideal three-from-three in opposition to China, with three groups nonetheless in rivalry to complete on prime of Group D. 

We preview the fixture under.

Lauren James’ expertise key to Lionesses’ success 

Final week, England wanted a spot of brilliance to get previous Denmark on the Sydney Soccer Stadium and by chance for Sarina Wiegman’s facet, Lauren James was available to just do that.

James, sister to Chelsea’s Reece James, was re-introduced into the beginning XI for the primary time this event, a uncommon change of tactic from Wiegman having named an unchanged 11 for all of her staff’s fixtures throughout their profitable European Championship marketing campaign.

On what was her second look within the World Cup having come on as an alternative choice to their 1-0 win over Haiti, it took England’s quantity seven simply six minutes to search out the again of the Danish web.

The 21-year-old obtained the ball 30 yards out with a fast flip in the direction of aim, and after taking up the urgent defence, her curling right-footed effort from exterior the field clattered into the again of the netting.

In simply 13 video games for the worldwide facet at a senior degree, she has made her mark on the squad since her debut 11 months in the past due to a aim within the Arnold Clark Cup in opposition to South Korea in addition to her most up-to-date, and vital, conversion. James is 16/5 so as to add one other aim in opposition to China, whereas Alessia Russo is England’s favorite to get on the scoresheet at 21/10.

Due to this fact, her inclusion from minute one in opposition to China might be essential to the Lionesses’ success in an vital group stage sport, the place they’re strongly fancied at 1/3 to select up all three factors.

Necessary remaining sport for event improvement 

Though it seems to be just like the European champions are set to qualify for the spherical of 16 bar a giant swing of outcomes in opposition to them – which may occur if China beat England, Denmark beat Haiti, and each have a greater aim distinction than the Lionesses – this remaining group stage sport is a giant one for who they’ll face subsequent.

The staff that tops Group D will face the runner-up in Group B which might be Nigeria after their scoreless draw with the Republic Of Eire on Monday, nevertheless, in the event that they fall brief and make it by means of in second, the hosts Australia can be their subsequent opponent.

This, on paper, seems to be like a swing in high quality on who England will face within the subsequent spherical.

Firstly, on head-to-head type, Australia obtained the higher of the Lionesses’ throughout their final sport in opposition to one another in April of this yr in a sport the place the Matildas transformed each pictures on aim on the Gtech Neighborhood Stadium in Brentford.

Moreover, previous to this World Cup, Australia had solely misplaced as soon as in 9 video games whereas Nigeria had misplaced 4 in seven, so the house nation does ship extra constant outcomes versus the Tremendous Falcons.

This information about potential future opponents may also be on the minds of China who might be with out midfielder Zhang Rui after her purple card within the twenty ninth minute in opposition to Haiti.

A draw (16/5) can be sufficient to see England head into the knockout stage because the group leaders, however their activity to be able to get there gained’t be simple in opposition to a China staff with nothing-to-lose, and the Metal Roses might be hoping to trigger a large shock at 13/2 to assert victory.

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