Wiegman relieved as England survive "intense" last-16 clash

BRISBANE : England survived the loss of Lauren James to a red card, 120 minutes of pressure from Nigeria, and a penalty shootout in their last 16 victory on Monday, in a game coach Sarina Wiegman said was one of the most "intense" she had experienced.

England were on the back foot for most of the game and especially after James, their top scorer this tournament with three goals, was sent off in the 87th minute for a stamp on Nigeria's Michelle Alozie.

"I just know I'm 10 years older," Wiegman, 53, told reporters. "I haven't been in very many games that were so intense as this one tonight."

Manchester City forward Chloe Kelly, also the hero with an extra-time goal in England's Euro 2022 final win over Germany, scored the decisive penalty in a 4-2 shootout victory.

"I've never experienced so many problems," Wiegman said. "But of course it's my job to think of things that can happen in a game or in a tournament or ahead of the tournament.

"You try to turn every stone and then try to already think of solutions for when things happen. And - well - today we got totally tested on those stones."

James will miss Saturday's quarter-final against either Colombia or Jamaica, and depending on a FIFA disciplinary review, could miss the rest of the tournament in what would be a massive blow to England's World Cup dreams.

"It was a split second," Wiegman said of James' costly misstep. "She's an inexperienced player on this stage and she's done really well. And I think in a split second, she just sort of lost her emotions."

The slim victory came despite the fact England - unbeaten in 36 of their last 37 games - are ranked 36 places higher than Nigeria. Wiegman has spoken before about the terrific parity in this expanded 32-team World Cup that