England beat Denmark 1-0 after stunning Lauren James goal
England clinched a victory over Denmark thanks to an early goal from Chelsea’s Lauren James, ITV News Correspondent Bairbre Holmes reports
England secured their place at the top of their group after beating Denmark one nil with an early goal from Chelsea’s Lauren James.
The six-minute goal from out of the box slipped just past Denmark keeper Lene Christensen as it hit the top-right corner.
Despite the win, Denmark pressed England throughout the game and often looked like the more confident team.
It wasn't all good news as midfielder Keira Walsh was taken off on a stretcher in the 38th minute adding to England's long list of injuries.
Walsh waved off help from her teammates as she could clearly be seen telling the team’s medical staff: “I’ve done my knee.”
The Champions League winner grimaced as she was attended to by team medical staff.
James’ goal was England’s first from open play since April’s Finalissima at Wembley, while Denmark came within inches of a last-gasp leveller when Amalie Vangsgaard’s header clipped the post.
The Lionesses narrowly avoided late drama when a pair of Denmark substitutes nearly combined for an equaliser, but to their relief, Amalie Vangsgaard’s header from Nicoline Sorensen’s cross came back off the right post, and a leaping save from Earps in four minutes of stoppage time sealed another too-close-for-comfort result.
England now has to wait for the result of China and Haiti in the late kick-off to learn if they have advanced to the knockouts with a match to spare.
England is now at the top of Group D after beating Haiti in their first game.
The game kicked off at 6.30pm local time in Australia Sydney Football Stadium.
After Haiti presented more of a challenge to England than expected, many commentators were worried about the Lionesses' chances.
England manager Sarina Wiegman expressed her pride at the “fight” her team put up to win the game.
She told BBC Sport: “I think we started well, we played well, we scored that goal, we had a little stage in the first half that we lost balls we didn’t have to lose, but we got the rhythm in the game.
“Then of course we got this horrible moment with Keira, she had to go out, the second half it was a fight.
“We adapted to the new situation, we had to fight for the win and that’s what we did so I’m very proud of the team.”
Wiegman also praised James, who was one of two changes coming into the team, for her “beautiful” goal.
“For me it doesn’t matter who scores the goals, they played well, started well and LJ made a very beautiful goal so that’s very nice,” she added.
The England boss also said that they will assess the extent of Walsh’s injury.
“It looked serious, if you can’t walk off the pitch it’s serious, but I don’t know. We just finished the game,” Wiegman continued.
“I haven’t heard anything yet, you’re in the game you just have to move on and now it’s time to have a look at how she is and what the next steps are.”
Wiegman stuck with the same starting XI for every match of England’s triumphant Euro 2022 campaign, but the retirements of striker Ellen White and midfielder Jill Scott alongside injuries to European champions Beth Mead, Leah Williamson and Fran Kirby have left her current 23-woman squad looking significantly different.
Denmark boss Lars Sondergaard previously said his team were the underdogs in the game and called the England squad a "superpower".
Want a quick and expert briefing on the biggest news stories? Listen to our latest podcasts to find out What You Need To Know...