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James can provide a spark for misfiring England
Evening Standard
|July 24, 2023
ENGLAND boss Sarina Wiegman has called on her attackers to be more ruthless, but she may have to follow the same advice when picking her team for Friday's game against Denmark.
The Lionesses are off and running at this World Cup, but the 1-0 win over Haiti in Brisbane at the weekend was not the flying start they wanted.
England struggled to click, especially going forward, and Haiti deserve credit for the way they disrupted the Lionesses' rhythm.
England's problems in front of goal pre-date Saturday's game, however, and they have now not scored from open play since the start of April.
The attack is in need of a spark and it is why Wiegman (below) will be tempted to find a way of getting Lauren James into her starting line-up.
James is a unique player in England's squad, combining pace and power with a level of close-ball control that makes her a nightmare for defenders.
Leah Williamson referred to her as a "cheat code" after she was named Player of the Tournament at the Arnold Clark Cup in February, and James's style of play is very off the cuff.
She is a free spirit, on and off the pitch, as summed up by many of her tattoos being drawn freehand. "It's just how I am," she says.
This story is from the July 24, 2023 edition of Evening Standard.
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