England and Chelsea superstar Lauren James scored a magnificent volley in the Lionesses’ World Cup group stage demolition of China – to commemorate the occasion, she posted a picture of herself celebrating on her official Instagram page.
England ran rampant over China, defeating their opponents by a score of 6-1. James was undoubtedly England’s star player on the night, creating and scoring chances with frightening regularity.
Her first goal, scored in the first half, came from a set-piece. The ball was played into her from the edge of the box, allowing her to slam the ball into the bottom corner.
Her second goal of the evening, however, was even better. Jess Carter crossed in a hopeful ball from deep, which James latched onto – she then unleashed a powerful, yet precise side-footed volley into the back of the net, giving Chinese goalkeeper Zhu Yu no chance.
On top of this, James also collected a hattrick of assists, setting up goals for Alessia Russo, Lauren Hemp and Chloe Kelly. All in all, she was directly responsible for five of England’s six goals.
What did Lauren James post on Instagram?
James’ post was given plenty of support from both her England teammates and beyond. Outside of the Lionesses’ team, Jelena Cankovic, Sam Kerr, Maren Mjelde, Alisha Lehmann and Shanice Van De Sanden all left a like on her post.
Meanwhile, a handful of fellow players in the England team, like Rachel Daly, Lucy Bronze, Chloe Kelly, Alessia Russo and Alex Greenwood left a comment on the picture. Amongst the commenters was James’ brother, Reece, who plays as a right-back for Chelsea’s men’s team.
Is Lauren James England’s best player at the 2023 World Cup in Australia and New Zealand?
Currently, James is irreplaceable in the England setup. Her composed finishing, explosive pace and creative edge make her an incredibly dangerous player for any team to come up against.
She will only get better and better as her confidence grows – currently, the Lionesses look to be one of the favourites to lift the trophy when the dust settles.
