Fifa Women’s World Cup: James cracker fires England victory over Denmark, but Walsh injury overshadows win
- Lauren James strikes in sixth minute to put side on verge of qualifying for knockout stages
- But injury to influential midfielder Keira Walsh leaves England team with mixed emotions
European champions England stood on the brink of the Women’s World Cup last 16 after a Lauren James cracker in the sixth minute gave them a 1-0 win over Denmark on Friday.
But an otherwise hugely satisfactory night for England in front of more than 40,000 fans in Sydney was marred by what looked like a serious knee injury to influential midfielder Keira Walsh.
On a night of mixed emotions, Sarina Wiegman’s side will seal their place in the knockout rounds if Asian champions China fail to beat debutants Haiti later on Friday in Group D.
Denmark might have stolen a point with three minutes left in normal time when, despite having as little as 20 per cent of the possession for much of the game, Amalie Vangsgaard shaved the outside of the England post with a header.
Wiegman made two changes from the team that squeezed past Haiti 1-0 in their opener, Rachel Daly and James coming into the starting XI.
And it was the 21-year-old Chelsea forward James who was the star of the first half, before fading in the second.