Summary

  • England beat Denmark to maintain 100% record in Group D

  • James scored winner with brilliant curling strike from edge of box

  • Lionesses midfielder Walsh carried off on stretcher with knee injury in first half

  • England will qualify for knockout stage if China fail to beat Haiti

  1. Lots of interest in the Women's World Cup Statesidepublished at 08:31 British Summer Time 28 July 2023

    Simon Stone
    BBC Sport in San Diego, USA

    Gio Reyna being interviewed at a Borussia Dortmund training sessionsImage source, Getty Images

    I went to watch Borussia Dortmund play the local San Diego team at the Snapdragon Stadium last night.

    Naturally enough the stadium broadcaster wanted to talk with USA international Gio Reyna, who is currently out of action with a calf strain.

    What I found quite interesting was that he asked Reyna about the US women’s team’s surprising draw with the Netherlands at the World Cup in Australia.

    Anecdotally, there does seem to be a decent amount of interest here. In New Jersey last week I walked past a bar and there were lots of people watching USA’s opening game against Vietnam, which did go quite a bit better.

  2. Fans on their travelspublished at 08:29 British Summer Time 28 July 2023

    England v Denmark (09:30 BST)

    Emma Sanders
    BBC Sport at Sydney Football Stadium

    .Image source, BBC Sport

    England fans have been gathering in Sydney's city centre today on their way towards the stadium.

    They stopped off at Squires Landing in Gadigal after visiting the famous Opera House, which is opposite the temporary Fox Studios.

    Along the Harbour walk are plaques for each team competing in the tournament, with England's next to a giant cruise ship.

    The stadium is based about half an hour away from the city centre but it's a nice day for the fans to wander over.

  3. So far on Friday...published at 08:28 British Summer Time 28 July 2023

    Argentina 2-2 South Africa

    While we build up to England's match against Denmark, here's a quick round-up of what happened in this morning's earlier game between Argentina and South Africa.

    South Africa were on course to pick up a first ever Women's World Cup victory in a pulsating encounter in Dunedin but in the end they had to settle for their first point after Argentina produced a stunning comeback from two goals down to draw.

    You can read the match report from that game here.

  4. 'This is what dreams are made of'published at 08:27 British Summer Time 28 July 2023

    England v Denmark (09:30 BST)

    Chloe Kelly and Lucy BronzeImage source, Getty Images

    England winger Chloe Kelly speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live: "I think it's really positive. We have a good recovery under our belt. We have moved hotels into the base and it was a great training session with the locals watching us as well.

    "It is important we feel that love from them too. It's great to see so many fans with City shirts on, United fans with United shirts on. It's important we mix with those fans and show our appreciation to them.

    "A World Cup is what dreams are made of and to have fans come out and support us across the world is really amazing to see how far the women's game has come. We have so many fans who have travelled across the world to cheer us on. They are living the dream too. Hopefully they have a great time this summer."

  5. 'From Manchester to Sydney'published at 08:26 British Summer Time 28 July 2023

    England v Denmark (09:30 BST)

    Shaimaa Khalil
    BBC News, Sydney

    As we got closer to the Sydney harbour bridge, the sea of bucket hats, the Lionesses jerseys and the flags told us where we were! Caz Morris King (in the Millie Bright shirt) and Leanne Woodall travelled from Manchester.

    "You can do this girls - you got this!" Was their message to the Lionesses and to Millie Bright in particular.

    “You’re smashing it!” they said!

    England fansImage source, BBC Sport
  6. 'Different experience as a pundit, but same excitement'published at 08:25 British Summer Time 28 July 2023

    England v Denmark (09:30 BST)

    Ellen White
    Former England striker on BBC Breakfast

    England Lionesses record goalscorer Ellen White spoke to BBC Breakfast before the match against Denmark this morning, explaining how she celebrates those nervy moments when watching with her 14-week old baby daughter.

    "My excitement is up there. It's obviously different now being on the other side as a pundit, rather than playing. We've had the first game, three points and now looking forward to the next one."

    "I've got a baby daughter so we can watch it together as well. It's really fun. [When those nervous moments happen] She does her startle, so I try not to scream too much! But she is enjoying it, she's liking it to be fair."

  7. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 08:23 British Summer Time 28 July 2023

    #bbcfootball, text 81111 (UK only - standard rates apply) or WhatsApp 03301231826

    The change that occurred in last match when James came on was so profound ie much more positive play. She inspires the team by driving forward.

    Anon

    Daly back at left-back is a bit regressive given she's a striker now, that's like sticking Bale back there because you prefer someone else up front.

    Martin

    Why Daly is left back and not replacing Russo is confusing. Let’s just hope Russo scores a few. C’mon you Lionesses

    Richard

    Makes sense bringing in James who offers something different and the Bright/Carter partnership clearly did not work.

    Paul

  8. 'A future Lioness!'published at 08:22 British Summer Time 28 July 2023

    England v Denmark (09:30 BST)

    Shaimaa Khalil
    BBC News, Sydney

    Romilly Lloyd and her mum Fiona missed the first game against Haiti because she was at a football academy in Sweden - now they're here. One day she tells me Romilly hopes to be playing with the England team.

    "A future Lioness!" her mum beamed.

    England fansImage source, BBC Sport
  9. A few familiar faces in the opposition rankspublished at 08:21 British Summer Time 28 July 2023

    England v Denmark (09:30 BST)

    Pernille Harder shouts in delight as her side score a late winner.Image source, Getty Images
    Image caption,

    Pernille Harder will likely pose the greatest threat for Denmark

    Denmark will line up with a few faces familiar to fans of the Women's Super League, most notably former Chelsea forward Pernille Harder.

    But is such a high level of familiarity with their opponents an advantage or disadvantage for the Lionesses?

    "There are players we play against, week in week out at club level. We know them a lot better at international level as well in terms of them being a European team," said England defender Lucy Bronze.

    She added, "You tend to know what a European style team looks like, so it could be a good thing, it could be a bad thing."

  10. Teams check out the pitch - and each otherpublished at 08:19 British Summer Time 28 July 2023

    England v Denmark (09:30 BST)

    Anna Thompson
    BBC Sport at Sydney Football Stadium

    Both teams arrived at the stadium a little while ago and have been checking out the pitch - and each other.

    Denmark's Pernille Harder played for Chelsea for three years before moving to Bayern Munich this summer and she was having a big old chat with former team-mates Millie Bright, Lauren James and Beth England.

    It's all very jovial before kick-off.

    England and Denmark players check out the pitch and have a chatImage source, BBC Sport
    Image caption,

    England and Denmark players check out the pitch and have a chat

  11. Team news - Daly and James startpublished at 08:16 British Summer Time 28 July 2023
    Breaking

    England v Denmark (09:30 BST)

    Emma Sanders
    BBC Sport at Sydney Football Stadium

    .Image source, BBC Sport

    Sarina Wiegman has made two changes to the England team who beat Haiti 1-0 in their opening game.

    The big change is Jess Carter has dropped out, with Rachel Daly coming in, presumably at left-back.

    The other decision sees Lauren James come in for Manchester City winger Lauren Hemp.

    England XI: Earps, Bronze, Bright, Greenwood, Daly, Walsh, Stanway, Toone, Kelly, Russo, James.

    Subs: Charles, Hemp, Nobbs, Hampton, Wubben-Moy, Morgan, Carter, Coombs, England, Zelem, Roebuck, Robinson.

    DenmarkImage source, .

    Ex-Chelsea forward Pernille Harder starts and captains Denmark - she will likely be their main threat and will come up against former team-mate Millie Bright.

    Defender Rikke Sevecke, recently at Everton, starts alongside Arsenal's Kathrine Kuhl.

    Everton full-back Katrine Veje is also in the side.

    Denmark XI: Christensen, Hasbo, Ballisager, Sevecke, Boye, Holmgaard, Harder, Veje, Kuhl, Madsen, Thomsen.

    Subs: Troelsgaard, Snerle, Vangsgaard, Thrige, Sorensen, Thogersen, Larsen, Gevitz, Bruun, Gejl, Ostergaard, Svava.

  12. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 08:14 British Summer Time 28 July 2023

    #bbcfootball, text 81111 (UK only - standard rates apply) or WhatsApp 03301231826

    Alessia Russo and Rachel DalyImage source, Getty Images

    Get involved with all your thoughts on the match and the Women's World Cup via the methods above.

  13. 'Lack of goals a collective responsibility'published at 08:12 British Summer Time 28 July 2023

    England v Denmark (09:30 BST)

    Ellen White
    Former England striker on BBC Breakfast

    Sarina is a stickler for keeping to the same 11. I think she may change one or two players, but she will stick with Alessia Russo up top – she trusted her with that first game.

    I think she played well in that Haiti game, it is just about giving her enough opportunities in front of goal. I think it is a collective issue [lack of goals] rather than just the number nine not in the right place.

    Give Russo more opportunities and hopefully she will score.

  14. Will Sarina stick or twist against Denmark?published at 08:11 British Summer Time 28 July 2023

    England v Denmark (09:30 BST)

    Sarina Wiegman enters the press conference pre-Denmark.Image source, Getty Images

    Despite naming an unchanged side throughout England's victorious Euros campaign last summer, Sarina Wiegman has insisted that she will make changes to her team if she sees fit.

    "You all think that is one of my principles, not changing the team, but it’s not just developed over the last year or in the Euros, that is what you refer to all the time," said Wiegman.

    "We just think who is fit, who is available, who is our next opponent? Do we have to make some changes in the approach to the next game or not? Then we make decisions."

  15. 'England are too predictable'published at 08:10 British Summer Time 28 July 2023

    England v Denmark (09:30 BST)

    BBC Football Daily

    The Guardian's Suzy Wrack, discussing England's creativity on BBC's Football Daily podcast: "I think the biggest issue for me from the Haiti game and the big question ahead of Denmark is just how predictable the England attack is because without Fran Kirby and without Leah Williamson playing out of the back and through the middle, you've really lost a lot of creativity straight down the middle of the park. You noticed against Haiti, Ella Toone's best passing was out on the left and not through the middle.

    "There was an unpredictability to England's play at the Euros where you didn't know where the goals were coming from.

    "They were coming from wide, they could come through the centre and now that there is a lack of creativity in the middle, everything is coming down the wings. It's easy to predict and easy to play against when you know it's coming from there."

  16. Results more important than performances - Bronzepublished at 08:09 British Summer Time 28 July 2023

    Emma Sanders
    BBC Sport at Sydney Football Stadium

    Lucy Bronze says England would be perfectly happy to keep winning matches 1-0 at the Women's World Cup because results are more important than performances.

    The Lionesses underwhelmed in their opening matchday 1-0 victory over Haiti, with manager Sarina Wiegman saying they lacked ruthlessness.

    England face Denmark in their second group game at 09:30 BST.

    "It's not always about scoring seven goals," said Bronze. "You could go [through the entire] World Cup winning 1-0 all the time, or by drawing and then winning on penalties. Performances mean a lot to us but results are [more] important.

    "The performances are there [from us] in games, from individuals and as a collective - it's just being more ruthless and more clinical in front of goal.

    "I don't think people would talk as much about performances [versus] results then."

    England can book their place in the last 16 with a game to spare if they manage victory over Denmark and the other Group D match between China and Haiti (kick-off 12:00 BST) ends in a draw or a Haiti win.

  17. Postpublished at 08:08 British Summer Time 28 July 2023

    So, a winning start for England, although there was criticism of the side's performance against a Haiti side ranked 53rd in the world.

    England, fourth in the rankings, are up against 13th-ranked Denmark today.

  18. How it standspublished at 08:06 British Summer Time 28 July 2023

    There have only been two matches in Group D so far - both ending in 1-0 wins for England and Denmark against Haiti and China respectively.

    Either England or Denmark can qualify today and will do so if they win and China fail to beat Haiti in Friday's last match.

    Group DImage source, .
  19. Stanway penalty proves decisivepublished at 08:04 British Summer Time 28 July 2023

    England v Denmark (09:30 BST)

    And here's how Sarina Wiegman's Lionesses performed against an impressive Haiti side.

  20. Denmark snatch late winner in opening gamepublished at 08:03 British Summer Time 28 July 2023

    England v Denmark (09:30 BST)

    If you missed it last Saturday, or in case you've just forgotten, here's a quick reminder of how Denmark got on against China.