Makes sense against weaker opposition - Daly & Bronze become wing backs and both are good going forward
A lot of responsibility given to Zelem to hold the midfield on her first start
WWC23 | England v Spain - Spain win the World Cup - and Rubiales gets sacked
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Makes sense against weaker opposition - Daly & Bronze become wing backs and both are good going forward
A lot of responsibility given to Zelem to hold the midfield on her first start
Perhaps even against better teams?
Allows James to come inside more with Daly providing width + Bright can focus on distributing the ball to the wide centre backs who are both better at breaking the lines/press with either runs with the ball or risky passes.
What the feck was that free kick routine about?? 
I think without Kiera Walsh they had to do something drastic. How good we'll look when the fullbacks have to stay back is a different matter.
Spain like possession stats
What the feck was that free kick routine about??
That was more appropriate for a circus than for a football match.
That's irritating. well, certainly look them up on the highlights.
Lauren hemp and that's 2-0 - lovely pass from James
Hemp with the 2-0 goal!
That first touch from Hemp was ridiculously good
Top play from Bright for that goal. Beautiful touch and finish from Hemp.
They care more about fashion for Instagram than football.
Lauren James has such a cannon of a shot. England 3-0 China in the 41st minute.
Too easy. James unmarked at that setpiece.
Also gave Bright the freedom to break from defence which she did brilliantly for the 2nd goal
This looks like the best performance so far but I would expect to revert to the usual formation for the knockouts, will definitely give her a dilemma though
This is a really good performance from England. Great intensity.
James with another scorcher! 4-0.
Lauren James beautifully flighted goal 4-0
James is an insanely talented player.
Bronze offside?
Now what?
Lucy Bronze was in an offside position in the first action, but was statuesque at best.
Lucy Bronze was in an offside position in the first action, but was statuesque at best.
Seriously, referee...
Shame, disallowed for offside. They really should mic up referees like that in all top level leagues.
Pity. But we've got a second half to play.
Lauren James is stupidly good. Insane.
I thought that shouldn’t be classed as offside? But then again I feel like no one knows how the rule works anymore. James is seriously good. Could be 6 or 7 here if England feel like it.
Just pure ineptitude. One of the Americans' goals against Vietnam was allowed even though Alex Morgan was interfering with the goalkeeper from an offside position. In this case, Bronze was not involved in the play when in an offside position and until she came back in a perfectly legal position.
Laura woods is bloody gorgeous.
England not looking quite as lively now. That or China have worked out how to line up against us.
That's got to be a pen.
Earps pushed Bronze into that
That's an obvious pen. I don't know why they're looking at it for so long.
Handball given - China penalty. Bronze unlucky with another VAR call.
The booking is incredibly harsh though wtf
wtfCan't argue with that its clearly a pen.
3-1
England can’t really complain. I don’t agree with defenders holding their arms behind their back, but you clearly can’t spread your arms like that and expect to get away with it.
So they get the penalty here (rightly so) and we get a yellow (stupidly excessive) but we get a goal stupidly disallowed for somebody offside that had no involvement in the goal whatsoever?
Feels stupid saying it at this point but where the feck is the consistency.
Feels stupid saying it at this point but where the feck is the consistency.
Between that and the disallowed goal, you've got two pretty poor decisions imo. But at least there's a hint of a competitive match now.
Could do with England waking up now, would be nice to get the positive vibe back.