England boss Sarina Wiegman admits Lauren James has a 'huge lesson to learn'

Sarina Wiegman said she had ‘aged 10 years’ after the most intense game of her career saw England beat Nigeria 4-2 on penalties to progress to the quarter-finals of the World Cup.

The Lionesses had been heavy favourites to prevail in Monday's last 16 tie but had to overcome Lauren James’ 87th minute red card before a nervy period of extra-time.

James saw red for stepping on Nigeria’s Michelle Alozie in an act of petulance. Wiegman said the forward had apologised but that she did ‘not intend to hurt anyone’.

‘I've spoken to her. I actually said [to her], “look, that happens sometimes with human beings,” that they are in such an intense game and such a high-intensity, emotional game, and in a split second she lost her emotions.

‘Of course she apologised and she felt really, really bad. Absolutely she doesn't want to hurt anyone.

‘This was a moment, it was a split second, it was later in the game, so players also get a little tired, she's an inexperienced player on this stage and she's done really well.

‘I think in a split second she just lost her emotions. Of course she doesn't want to hurt anyone, she's the sweetest person I know. Things happen like that, you can't change it any more, it's a huge lesson to learn but of course it's not something she's done on purpose.’

Chloe Kelly scored the winning spot-kick to send England through and Wiegman admitted she had not experienced such an intense encounter during her managerial career.

‘I don’t know about my heart-rate, I just know I’m ten years older,’ Wiegman said. ‘It was a really intense game.

‘Nothing is easy in this tournament, that is very exciting about this tournament too, you see the women's game has improved so much.

‘You saw it in the group stage, so many games were equal