Every other team at the World Cup would love Mary Earps in goal. Credit: AP Photo/Mark Baker
The mood after England's tough victory over Denmark was understandably grim. The Lionesses just saw their most important player, Kira Walsh, carried off on a stretcher with a painful knee injury, and her tournament is almost certainly over, even if she avoided an ACL injury.
England will have to try to win the World Cup for the first time without a player to keep them ticking in midfield. Of the team that started against Germany in last year's magnificent European Championship triumph, five are missing: permanent captain Leah Williamson, Golden Boot winner Beth Meade, number 10 Fran Kirby is also injured, and Ellen White is in the post-career TV studio.
But Telegraph Sport sees cause for encouragement in what the team has achieved so far in Australia to dispel the doom and gloom.
James' appearance on the world stage
There is a feeling that Sarina Wigman deliberately excluded James from the starting XI for the first game against Haiti, as she wanted the 21-year-old to advance to his first major tournament. It was only a matter of time before she released herself, and her goal and all-round performance against Denmark was proof that she was ready to take this tournament by the scruff.
Her goal was a sublime moment in an ocean of impressive contributions. She terrified the Danish defense every time she landed on the ball. Her ability to beat full-backs by shifting her weight left or right makes her a defensive nightmare, and her precise ball control, skill and touch by some margin are the best in this England team.
A goal to win in any game ☄️
Absolutely beautiful Lauren James brings victory to #ENG, who scores two wins out of two on #FIFAWWC pic.twitter.com/725CncQwWT
&mdash ; ITV Football (@itvfootball) July 28, 2023
England will need a new generation of players to come up with so many older generation stars that are in short supply and they have a diamond in James. You suspect it will get even better with the certainty that it can hurt international teams just as easily as clubs. We may have just witnessed the beginning of a great career for the Chelsea youngster with England.
Greenwood's all-around game
In the first half against Denmark, Alex Greenwood got a hard pass from Georgia Stanway, high and too much pace. The Danish strikers saw their chance to press, harass and stalk. They had a great opportunity to take the ball away from the England centre-back at the halfway line and if they had, they would have scored on goal.
But instead, Greenwood controlled the ball with ease, looked up and passed through the gap between the two Danes. Instead of going backwards, England took the lead and the first wave of their pressing was missed.
That's why it's better for her to play in the center of defense. Now, after losing Walsh, her passing range and accuracy will be even more in demand in the middle of the field.
In the second half, we saw the other side of her game, a brilliant tackle as the last defender to stop the chance on goal.< /p> 
Alex Greenwood combines destructive and creative arts in her beautiful center back. Photo: AP Photo/Mark Baker. player, and now it will be more important than ever.
Earps is the best goalkeeper in the world
Make no mistake, England were under a lot of pressure late in the game, but the defense held firm and Mary Earps only needed to make one really good save, breaking the bar as she fell back. It was a great save and one that most goaltenders wouldn't have gotten to.
Erps made headlines earlier in the tournament for her criticism of Nike's decision not to replicate goalie jerseys for kids, but that shouldn't distract her attention. ability between posts.
England will be tight and the stronger teams they face later in the tournament will inevitably create more chances than Haiti or Denmark. However, every team left in the World Cup would like to make the playoffs with Earps in goal. England got lucky with her and if she does well they still have a good chance of getting deep into this tournament. Who knows, maybe she will even become the heroine of the penalty shootout.
Bronze will not go away, like this England team
As Walsh left the field, her friend and former Manchester City teammate tried to comfort her. Her efforts were abruptly halted, with Walsh yelling back at her, «It's over.» Bronze took a step back and adjusted the knot in her hair. She sprained her hamstrings and refocused.
After that, she seemed to be all over the place, throwing herself into holds, rushing forward to offer her offensive support. It's not the first time she's been a woman on a mission wearing an English shirt.
She's the warrior queen of the Lionesses, and she won't give up without a fight. She needs to win the World Cup to make sure she lifts all the trophies offered to her and she will view the loss of Walsh as an inconvenience, not a death blow.
England players were visibly upset by Walsh's injury. on the field, and for a while they did lose the rhythm, but when they had to firmly resist the late onslaught, they did. The team spirit in this group is incredibly strong. They didn't give up on winning the World Cup, and neither should we.
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