Stunning James double helps England power into last 16

Lauren James produced a sensational idiosyncratic show arsenic England entertained to expanse speech China and publication their spot successful the past 16 of the Women's World Cup arsenic radical winners.

The 13,497 successful attendance were treated to a masterclass from Chelsea's James, who announced her accomplishment astatine the World Cup with the match-winner against Denmark connected Friday.

She helped England get disconnected to the cleanable commencement erstwhile she teed up Alessia Russo for the opener, and aboriginal slipped the shot done to Lauren Hemp to coolly spot it into the bottommost corner.

It was mostly one-way postulation arsenic England dominated and overwhelmed, James striking it archetypal clip into the country from the borderline of the container to marque it 3-0 earlier different stunning decorativeness was ruled retired by video adjunct referee (VAR) for offside successful the build-up.

China knew they were heading retired of the tourney unless they responded, truthful they came retired with much aggression successful the 2nd half, unnerving England somewhat erstwhile Shuang Wang scored from the punishment spot aft VAR picked up a handball by defender Lucy Bronze.

But James was not done yet - she volleyed Jess Carter's heavy transverse past helpless goalkeeper Yu Zhu for England's 4th earlier substitute Chloe Kelly and striker Rachel Daly joined the party.

England, who had softly gone astir their concern successful the radical stages, volition person raised eyebrows with this show earlier their last-16 lucifer against Nigeria connected Monday, unrecorded connected BBC One (20:30 BST).

China are retired of the contention aft Denmark bushed Haiti to decorativeness successful 2nd spot successful Group D.

• Reaction to England's triumph implicit China

England beryllium worthy without Walsh

Manager Sarina Wiegman kept everyone guessing erstwhile she named her starting XI, with England fans anxiously waiting to spot however they would acceptable up against China without injured midfielder Keira Walsh.

Wiegman's effect was to unleash England's attacking endowment connected a China broadside who struggled to lucifer them successful physicality, strength and sharpness.

James oozed magic and unpredictability, Hemp utilized her gait to trial China's defence and skipper Millie Bright was ferocious successful her tackling, winning the shot backmost connected countless occasions.

After nudging past Haiti and Denmark with reasonably underwhelming 1-0 wins, England were keen to enforce themselves from the start. Although China had chances successful the 2nd half, they were ever 2nd best.

Goalkeeper Mary Earps volition beryllium disappointed not to support a cleanable sheet, but she made 2 astute saves to contradict Chen Qiaozhu.

While England are yet to conscionable a broadside ranked wrong the world's apical 10 astatine the tournament, this volition assistance quieten doubts that they mightiness conflict without the instrumental Walsh.

More to follow.