da apostebet： The Dutch coach needed to find a new way to play without Keira Walsh and found a system that got the best out of a number of her star players
da bwin： England secured their place in the last 16 of the Women's World Cup on Tuesday, a 6-1 win over China sealing top spot in Group D and a meeting in the knockout rounds with a Nigeria side who have impressed. Goals in Adelaide came from Alessia Russo, Lauren Hemp, Lauren James (twice), Chloe Kelly and Rachel Daly as the Lionesses ran riot against the Asian champions.
Head coach Sarina Wiegman mixed things up in her team's final group game, switching to a 3-5-2 system that she'd never previously used in her current job, and it certainly paid dividends. The reward was almost immediate, with there just four minutes on the clock when Russo broke the deadlock. The Arsenal forward has struggled for form as of late, but her first goal for her country since February – and only her second since September – will have done her the world of good.
With less than 30 minutes played, Hemp made it two, her cool finish coming at the end of a great move while James, having assisted the first two goals, superbly added England's third just before half- time with a sublime strike from the edge of the box.
The Lionesses started the second half slowly, with Wang Shuang pulling a goal back for China from the penalty spot, but the result rarely looked in danger as another sensational strike by James was followed by Kelly pouncing on a goalkeeping error and Daly smashing a loose ball in the box into the roof of the net.
GOAL breaks down the winners & losers from Hindmarsh Stadium in Adelaide…
GettyWINNER: Lauren James
The star of the show once again, James ended the night with two goals and three assists to her name after a truly scintillating performance. She looked incredibly at home in the No.10 role, especially with the freedom given to her by this system.
The way James jinked past defenders, picked out her team-mates and generally bamboozled China was all a key part of her performance – but this game will be remembered for the two truly outstanding finishes she produced to bag a brace.
Were it not for a contentious VAR call, we could've been talking about one of the best hat-tricks in Women's World Cup history, but the two that did count were pretty special, too.
Despite not starting the first game, the Chelsea star now has the most combined goals and assists of any player at this year's tournament and today she became the first England player to be directly involved in five or more goals in a game at a Men's or Women's World Cup.
AdvertisementGetty ImagesWINNER: Alessia Russo
After struggling for form in an England shirt, coming into this game having scored once for her country since September, Russo really benefited from Wiegman's switch of system. The Arsenal forward is great at contributing to the build-up play, but the problem often is that this leaves no one in the box to get onto the end of the crosses or passes that she plays a big role in helping to orchestrate and, as a striker, she is always going to be judged on goals.
But with there two forwards to aim at in this game, it proved beneficial for her, with the ball still getting into good areas even when she wasn't there and Russo able to pick up the scraps from them, as she did for her opening goal.
It was a set-up that allowed Russo to excel in possession but didn't leave England without a focal point. Will we see it again?
Getty ImagesLOSER: China
A year on from their triumph at the Asian Cup, China needed a result from this game to have any chance of progressing to the last 16. But they were overawed by an incredible England team and struggled to get a foothold as a result.
It's the first time the Steel Roses have ever failed to progress from the Women's World Cup group stages – unwanted history that was sealed in rather disappointing fashion.
Getty ImagesWINNER: Sarina Wiegman
After Keira Walsh's injury, there were so many questions around what England's Plan B was. Wiegman was dismissive of suggestions that her team didn't have one and she proved it on Tuesday, setting the Lionesses up in a 3-5-2 formation that got the best out of so many different players.
Russo could roam with the support of Hemp, James looked better than ever, and despite being in a left wing-back role, Daly got into the box plenty and grabbed the goal she deserved, too.
This was a performance that will not only give a lot of confidence to England's attack, which had struggled for goals recently, but it will also be food for thought for the Lionesses' future opponents, as they really showed that they have the potential to mix it up.