England camp supporting Lauren James after dismissal

England's players will rally round Lauren James after her moment of madness in the team’s penalty shootout victory over Nigeria in the World Cup last 16.

The 21-year-old Chelsea forward’s red card for petulantly standing on Michelle Alozie as she lay on the ground was likened to David Beckham’s kick at Argentina’s Diego Simeone at the 1998 World Cup.

However, while the former Manchester United star’s sending-off contributed to the team’s difficulties and elimination, Sarina Wiegman’s side managed to progress to the quarter-finals.

Criticism of James, receiving the side’s first red card since Millie Bright’s dismissal in the World Cup semi-final defeat to the United States in 2019, has so far been well short of what Beckham received and team-mate Lauren Hemp said she would receive the full support of the squad.