Lauren James: England's 'special' talent makes her mark at Women's World Cup

When Sarina Wiegman named her starting XI for England's 2nd radical crippled against Denmark, determination was 1 summation that got the pulses racing - Lauren James.

But it was successful Sydney, successful the 1-0 triumph implicit Denmark, wherever James yet announced herself connected the satellite stage.

Less than six minutes into her archetypal commencement successful the Women's World Cup, she glided past 1 subordinate past stroked it into the apical country from the borderline of the box.

It was the blockbuster infinitesimal we person go accustomed to seeing from James successful the Women's Super League this play - and it proved to beryllium the winner, taking England to the brink of qualification for the knockout stages.

"She's incredible," said left-back Rachel Daly. "She brings a antithetic beingness to the squad and a load of ability.

"I'm buzzing for her. She is truthful peculiar and you tin spot what she tin bash successful choky spaces."

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James follows successful the footsteps of the legendary Jill Scott - becoming England's 2nd youngest goalscorer astatine the Women's World Cup.

It was besides the 2nd earliest extremity scored by the Lionesses successful the contention astatine 5 minutes and 44 seconds.

"It was a wonderment goal. She's got that magic successful her," said striker Bethany England. "Hopefully she tin nutrient much stunners similar that."

James described it arsenic "an astonishing feeling", adding it was "something I've ever dreamed of".

Her interaction was immediate. Every clip she had the shot astatine her feet she was nonstop and the 40,439 watching from the stands successful Australia were afloat of excitement.

England had 82% possession successful the opening 15 minutes and James had 3 shots, much than immoderate different subordinate connected the pitch.

"For idiosyncratic truthful young, Lauren James conscionable took the crippled by the scruff of the neck," Lionesses' grounds goalscorer Ellen White told BBC One.

"She truly dictated the tempo of the game. I conscionable emotion the mode she manipulates the ball. Scoring astatine a World Cup is simply a imagination for her and hopefully she tin proceed this present and instrumentality it into the adjacent games."

Lauren James' extremity came aft conscionable 5 minutes and 44 seconds

Wiegman has been cautious not to overhype James.

During the Arnold Clark Cup, erstwhile skipper Leah Williamson said James was like a video crippled 'cheat code', Wiegman said she was "still building".

And aft the triumph implicit Denmark, Wiegman again had a low-key reaction.

"Yes, she did well," said Wiegman. "We truly thought we needed players successful the pockets. That's wherever she came a lot, unneurotic with Georgia Stanway and Ella Toone, and that worked truly well.

"And yes she made a precise bully goal. We are precise cautious with her. She is simply a young, talented subordinate and we were truly blessed with her show - but conscionable arsenic we were with the remainder of the team."

But it is wide she stands retired from the crowd. As Lucy Bronze stated successful February, "Everyone has been waiting for this superstar" - and James showed glimpses of her imaginable against Denmark.

Older member Reece James - an England and Chelsea prima himself - posted connected societal media that helium was "proud" of Lauren's performance.

Reece and Lauren James some play for England and Chelsea

Former England goalkeeper Rachel Brown-Finnis said James has the "poise, prime and technique" to wounded teams successful the mode she did to people the winner.

Ex-Lioness Fara Williams said James was "the lone agleam spark".

"She kicked things disconnected with the aboriginal goal, which truly acceptable america connected our mode [to the win]," Williams told BBC One.

"After the archetypal 20-minute period, the lone prime from past connected truly came from Lauren James. For idiosyncratic truthful young to power the bushed of the squad is impressive, immoderate of the much experienced players request to instrumentality a leafage retired of her book."

Williams besides praised Wiegman's set-up, which allowed James "a licence to roam".

"She brought bushed to England's play, recognising erstwhile to burst up the pitch, erstwhile to dilatory the play down and erstwhile to bring the shot back.

"When she comes in-field she gets into the pockets we privation her in. Her extremity is exceptional - the decorativeness is unbelievable and the keeper wasn't getting anyplace adjacent it.

"It surely got maine disconnected my seat. I was jumping astir the room."