KATHRYN BATTE: How the Lionesses can ignite their World Cup campaign against dangerous Danes
England secured a 1-0 victory over Haiti in their World Cup opener but signs of rustiness have given boss Sarina Wiegman cause for concern.
Despite being overwhelming favourites to win, the Lionesses were far from convincing against inexperienced opponents and lacked composure in possession and in front of goal.
Had it not been for a fantastic save from goalkeeper Mary Earps in the closing stages, England would have left Brisbane with one point rather than three.
With a tricky game against Denmark in Sydney up next on Friday, Mail Sport looks at possible solutions to England and Wiegman’s problems.
Ian Wright was adamant. ‘Absolutely no way Lauren James should be starting on the bench,’ the pundit tweeted at the end of Saturday’s game.
James was introduced after an hour, replacing Lauren Hemp on the left wing, but many had expected the Chelsea forward to start.
James has primarily played down the right for England and eventually switched sides with Chloe Kelly later in the match.
But James’s performance in the No 10 role in a warm-up friendly against Portugal last month stood out. She dictated play and created the best chance of the game with a through ball for Alessia Russo that day in Milton Keynes.
Ella Toone, who started in the No 10 slot on Saturday, struggled to make an impact and James might have done a better job against the physicality of Haiti.
Toone drifted out to the left wing on a number of occasions, meaning Russo was quite isolated at the top of the pitch.
There is also an argument that James is better as a starter, whether it be on the wing or in the middle, than she is as an impact substitute. The 21-year-old rarely plays a full 90 minutes but needs time to get into the game. Toone and Kelly, meanwhile, are more
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