Summary

  • Result: England 4-0 South Korea - Stanway (pen) opened scoring before Kelly, Russo & James added goals after half-time

  • England begun defence of Arnold Clark Cup with comfortable win in Milton Keynes

  • Lionesses face Italy in their second match on Sunday

  • Belgium beat Italy 2-1 in opening game of competition

  1. Goodnight!published at 22:09 Greenwich Mean Time 16 February 2023

    England celebrateImage source, Getty Images

    So, England got their Arnold Clark Cup defence off to a winning start with a comfortable victory over South Korea.

    Have a read of Emma Sanders' report from the stadium here.

    Sarina Wiegman's unbeaten run continues, can the Lionesses extend it further on Sunday against Italy?

    We'll see you then.

    Bye for now!

  2. 'They are worthy European champions'published at 22:09 Greenwich Mean Time 16 February 2023

    FT: England 4-0 South Korea

    Emma Sanders
    BBC Sport at Stadium MK Dons

    More from South Korea boss Colin Bell on England: "Obviously [Lauren James] is great player to watch, very physical and very fast.

    "Speaking with Sarina after the game, even she said she has so many good players that it is a privilege to be in charge of them.

    "England have a lot of dynamic players. The way they play and giving everything they have, makes them very dangerous.

    "They are worthy European champions and I think they have a very good chance of winning the World Cup."

  3. 'James is a huge talent'published at 22:07 Greenwich Mean Time 16 February 2023

    FT: England 4-0 South Korea

    England

    Sarina Wiegman speaking about England’s performance on ITV4: “We played an opponent that played very deep, very compact. That was hard in the first-half. The pitch didn’t help either.

    “But I think we did really well in the second half, we found the spaces better. We needed more numbers up front and I think we did that lot better in the second-half.”

    On Lauren James: “She is a huge talent. We have lots of talent in this team and she is one of those exceptional talents.”

    On her half-time talk: “We had a very good start. We only talked about spaces, that we needed more numbers higher up, rotations and our centre-backs needed to play higher to get closer to where they defended. And to keep doing well in transition, so when we lost the ball we did really well.”

    On playing three games in seven days: “We have less rest. It is crucial that we have three games so we can try out new things, we can see a lot of players and see a lot of combinations and that’s really good.”

  4. 'England best team in world'published at 22:05 Greenwich Mean Time 16 February 2023

    FT: England 4-0 South Korea

    Emma Sanders
    BBC Sport at Stadium MK Dons

    South Korea manager Colin Bell: "For me, England are the best team in the world at the moment.

    "Sarina [Wiegman] has done a great job and has an enormous squad so can replace players. There is high talent there."

  5. 'James is a joy'published at 22:01 Greenwich Mean Time 16 February 2023

    FT: England 4-0 South Korea

    Karen Carney
    Former England midfielder on ITV4

    Lauren James has been a joy to watch. I just smile every time I see her play.

  6. Postpublished at 21:58 Greenwich Mean Time 16 February 2023

    FT: England 4-0 South Korea

    Here's how the rest of the tournament looks for England:

    Sunday, 19 February

    England v Italy (15:15 GMT)

    Wednesday, 22 February

    England v Belgium (19:45 GMT)

  7. Postpublished at 21:56 Greenwich Mean Time 16 February 2023

    FT: England 4-0 South Korea

    Yes, this is turning into a bit of a Lauren James love-in. She did have a cracker but let's have a look at when England are back in action...

  8. 'James is so tough to stop'published at 21:55 Greenwich Mean Time 16 February 2023

    FT: England 4-0 South Korea

    Ian Wright
    Former England striker on ITV4

    The performance she put in, the goal just capped it off. She did everything in that game.

    Once she got the ball to her feet and started to move at people, it was always going to cause a problem.

    You can see how tough she is to stop.

  9. 'I've grown into this team'published at 21:54 Greenwich Mean Time 16 February 2023

    FT: England 4-0 South Korea

    England

    Lauren James speaking about her player-of-the-match performance on ITV4: “I’ve really grown into this team and everyone has made me feel really welcome. Now I can build on with confidence and combine with players.

    “I worked hard and I’m happy with the outcome. Most importantly, we won.”

    On playing with Lucy Bronze: “She is a great person, a great player and very inspirational. I look forward to keep working with her."

    On having a point to prove after missing out on the Euros: “I think I look at each game, look to work hard, keep on improving and see where it gets me to.”

  10. Postpublished at 21:52 Greenwich Mean Time 16 February 2023

    FT: England 4-0 South Korea

    Emma Sanders
    BBC Sport at Stadium MK Dons

    Lauren James was the winner from that England side tonight. She got the nod ahead of Lauren Hemp and took her chance. With just five months to go until the World Cup kicks off, she is one of the first names that should be on the teamsheet.

  11. 'James is a menace'published at 21:51 Greenwich Mean Time 16 February 2023

    FT: England 4-0 South Korea

    Karen Bardsley
    Former England and Manchester City goalkeeper on BBC Radio 5 Live

    The fact that Lauren James is that young, the fact she looks like she looks like she has been doing that for years.

    She’s an absolute menace.

  12. Postpublished at 21:50 Greenwich Mean Time 16 February 2023

    FT: England 4-0 South Korea

    It has been 674 days since England tasted defeat.

    A great way for the European champions to set their stall out for the year as they look to achieve their ambition of becoming World champions.

  13. 'Is James un-droppable?published at 21:45 Greenwich Mean Time 16 February 2023

    FT: England 4-0 South Korea

    Izzy Christiansen
    Everton and England midfielder on BBC Radio 5 Live

    What we saw from Lauren James, based on that performance is it too far to say she is un-droppable for England?

  14. Postpublished at 21:44 Greenwich Mean Time 16 February 2023

    FT: England 4-0 South Korea

    That's 27 games unbeaten under Sarina Wiegman.

    England's Arnold Clark Cup campaign is underway with a well-deserved victory.

    They looked a little sticky in the first half but it seemed to just be an issue of clicking after some time apart.

    But the Lionesses ramped up the pace in that second period and, with a ridiculous amount of talent on the bench, it was a bit of a breeze for the European Champions.

  15. FULL-TIMEpublished at 21:40 Greenwich Mean Time 16 February 2023

    England 4-0 South Korea

    A very comfortable night for England in the end. They really turned it on in that second half and Sarina Wiegman will have a few things to think about from some of those performances.

  16. Postpublished at 90+2mins

    England 4-0 South Korea

    Driving run down the left-hand side from Lauren Hemp.

    She gets herself into a decent area and tries to square close to the byline but there's a crucial block from the defender.

  17. INJURY TIMEpublished at 90 mins

    England 4-0 South Korea

    We'll have four minutes of added time.

    Lauren James has just been announced as the player of the match in the stadium and received a very warm reception indeed.

    She has had a very good night.

  18. CLOSE!published at 89 mins

    England 4-0 South Korea

    Ohhhh what a miss from Katie Robinson!

    Ella Toone wants her name on the scoresheet with a header across the face of goal but Kim Jung-mi parries away straight to the onrushing Katie Robinson who hammers her shot off the post from about eight yards out.

    That one will be replaying in her head for quite some time.

    Katie RobinsonImage source, Getty Images
  19. SUBSTITUTIONpublished at 86 mins

    England 4-0 South Korea

    Couple of changes for South Korea to report.

    Hong Hye-ji and Son Hwa-yeon make way for Jang Yu-bin and Chun Ga-ram.

    The departing duo look a little relieved, I must say.

  20. YELLOW CARDpublished at 84 mins

    England 4-0 South Korea

    Kim Jung-mi goes into the book for time-wasting from the goal kick.

    Perhaps just taking a bit of a break?

    It has been a tricky night for the visitors.