James a World Cup star as England power into knockout phase - ESPN

ADELAIDE, Australia — This was a perfect evening for England. They were without Keira Walsh, they had a new-look 3-5-2 formation and coach Sarina Wiegman had made more changes than she had ever made in a major tournament. But, for all the shifting sands, they were completely dominant as they swiped aside China 6-1 to reach the round of 16 at the Women's World Cup.

Wiegman routinely dodges talking about individuals but, in a match where there were so many impressive showings, it's hard not to highlight the stunning performance of Lauren James as she played a key role in five of England's goals — scoring two and setting up three others.

— Women's World Cup: Landing page | Schedule | Rosters | News — Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, more (U.S.)

Her smile said it all as she was replaced with 10 minutes left, against a backdrop of applause and cheers to rival any heard on a chilly evening in Adelaide. «It's what dreams are made of,» James said postmatch. «Happy for the team, everyone is buzzing.

She added, when asked about her move into the No. 10 position for this match: „I felt free. Whether I'm on the wing or in the middle, I'm happy to be playing and contributing to goals.“

But this was not about the role of the individual; it was a collective dismantling. China couldn't get close to England, even resorting to pulling Alessia Russo's hair at a corner. At one stage it was the only way they could lay a finger on her, as she — like many of the Lionesses — ran rings around China in the first half with a performance of perfect passing triangles and expansive wing play which negated the low block facing them. The six goals England scored — each showcasing their multi-faceted attack — did not flatter this performance. After