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. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 09:24 British Summer Time 28 July 2023

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

    Amanda: Daly at left back. 1. It worked at the Euros. 2. Daly and Bright communication is excellent. 3. She will be in that opposition box as much as she can. 4. Rachel will be so happy to be starting she won't care where she plays.

  2. 'Why not use her at left-back?'published at 09:23 British Summer Time 28 July 2023

    England v Denmark (09:30 BST)

    Ellen White
    Former England striker on BBC One

    Rachel Daly at left-back worked so well in the Euros.

    If she is not starting in the number nine, why not put her in at left- back? She's got energy, a great one v one defender, and then going the other way sprinting down the wing.

    It is almost as if Sarina doesn't quite trust others in that left-back role.

  3. 'You need to finish your chances'published at 09:23 British Summer Time 28 July 2023

    England v Denmark (09:30 BST)

    Gilly Flaherty
    Former England defender on BBC Radio 5 Live

    I think you're talking back to the Portugal [warm-up] game. The amount of chances England created but they weren't ruthless with it. Haiti was the game people would have said was the most straightforward for England and it turned out it wasn't.

    It feels like it needed a freshen up top, as we aren't scoring enough. In tournament football you need to finish your chances.

  4. 'Denmark are a different prospect'published at 09:22 British Summer Time 28 July 2023

    England v Denmark (09:30 BST)

    England

    England defender Lucy Bronze speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live: "You tend to know more what a European style looks like. In the game it could be a good thing, it could be a bad thing.

    "We'll wait and see what comes."

  5. 'Haiti game was an eye-opener'published at 09:21 British Summer Time 28 July 2023

    England v Denmark (09:30 BST)

    Fara Williams
    Former England midfielder on BBC One

    We're a couple of days on now from that opening game and the players seem like they have found their energy again.

    In some of the interviews they did after the Haiti game they seemed very flat - maybe that was an eye-opener for them, made them come together and re-establish their standards.

    They will have spoken about mentality and they now know that they can't take their foot off the pedal.

  6. Danish boss praises 'superpower' Englandpublished at 09:20 British Summer Time 28 July 2023

    England v Denmark (09:30 BST)

    Denmark boss Lars Sondergaard has claimed his side are the "underdogs" for today's match.

    He added: "Sometimes when you enter a match you are underdogs and you need to perform well against a superpower such as England.

    “That’s easier said than done but, as Pernille [Harder] said, there’s a World Cup every four years, you’re not getting many of these opportunities in your career, right?

    "So it would be a mortal sin not to enjoy it.”

    Lars SondergaardImage source, Getty Images
  7. 'Harder is a master of creating space'published at 09:19 British Summer Time 28 July 2023

    England v Denmark (09:30 BST)

    Jonas Eidevall
    Arsenal manager on BBC One

    Pernille Harder likes to play in between the lines, she is a master of creating space.

    That means that a couple of players will need to co-operate today to deal with her in those spaces.

    She moves so much that if you have a player that goes one v one against her, she will drag them way out of position, creating a lot of holes and gaps [in the opposition's defence].

  8. 'James offers something different'published at 09:18 British Summer Time 28 July 2023

    England v Denmark (09:30 BST)

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

    We have missed Fran Kirby and the unpredictability of her movement. I personally would have rather seen Lauren James in the midfield.

    Lauren Hemp does really well to get round defenders but I think Sarina Wiegman wanted something different. That's why Lauren James starts.

  9. England's impressive recordpublished at 09:16 British Summer Time 28 July 2023

    England v Denmark (09:30 BST)

    England stat cardImage source, BBC Sport

    England have lost just one of their 33 matches under Sarina Wiegman in all competitions (won 26, drew six), going down 2-0 against Australia in April.

    England have won 11 of their last 14 matches at the FIFA Women's World Cup (lost three).

  10. 'James will thrive off the pressure'published at 09:15 British Summer Time 28 July 2023

    England v Denmark (09:30 BST)

    Fara Williams
    Former England midfielder on BBC One

    Lauren James' inclusion excites me the most.

    There have been far too many conversations about Rachel Daly and Alessia Russo and who is going to play in the nine.

    James has had a fantastic season for Chelsea, coming into the tournament with great form.

    There will be a bit of pressure with that, a young player, can she deal with it? I know her well; she can deal with it, she will thrive off it.

  11. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 09:14 British Summer Time 28 July 2023

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

    Chris: I’ve lived in Australia for 20 years and not seen this many English fans in one place. Great buzz around a stunning stadium full of Poms! Come on England!

    Singing Sweeeet Caroline at 9 in the morning in the office feels different!

    Anon

  12. Sarina wants me to take more responsibility - Walshpublished at 09:13 British Summer Time 28 July 2023

    England v Denmark (09:30 BST)

    Emma Sanders
    BBC Sport at Sydney Football Stadium

    Keira WalshImage source, Getty Images

    England midfielder Keira Walsh says she feels more responsibility on the pitch under manager Sarina Wiegman.

    Walsh, 26, was one of the stars of Euro 2022, completing a world-record transfer to Barcelona shortly after the Lionesses won the tournament.

    In her debut season for Barcelona she won the Women's Champions League and helped them retain their league title.

    "[Taking responsibility] is something Sarina has been pushing me on," said Walsh.

    "Maybe it's just solving the pictures on the pitch and coaching a little bit more. I wouldn't say I'm the loudest so it doesn't come naturally to me, but it's something she wants me to improve on.

    "She encourages the more experienced players to coach a bit and puts more onus on us on the pitch. If we feel things that she can't, then she is more than happy for us to help and find solutions.

    "It's nice to be pushed that way and for older players to have that responsibility. She's always pretty open to people making their own decisions and choices."

  13. More on Denmarkpublished at 09:12 British Summer Time 28 July 2023

    England v Denmark (09:30 BST)

    Denmark stat cardImage source, BBC Sport

    Denmark's squad includes Everton quartet Rikke Sevecke, Karen Holmgaard, Katrine Veje and Nicoline Sorensen as well as midfielders Sanne Troelsgaard, Emma Snerle and Kathrine Kuhl, who play for Reading, West Ham and Arsenal respectively.

  14. 'Everyone has a role in our squad'published at 09:11 British Summer Time 28 July 2023

    England v Denmark (09:30 BST)

    England

    Chloe KellyImage source, Getty Images

    England winger Chloe Kelly speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live: "It's been really good. We have got three points under our belt now. We are ready to move forward. We are excited to get going again.

    "I think the first game of the tournament is always difficult and Haiti were a good challenge for us. This tournament there's not been loads of high-scoring games and it's been really tight. That's amazing for the competition and I'm glad we got the three points and we are looking forward to the next game now.

    "It's about the team and about an individual in that team and also the team, comes first. We all have a job to do, whether that be starting, on the bench or coming off the bench. Everyone has a role. Come the Denmark game it will be really exciting too.

    "For me I am in a good place. I had a whole season behind me this year as opposed to last year. But I think last year I knew my role and I was able to impact the way I can and give my all for the team. I am ready to do that again."

  15. Castellanos in Sydneypublished at 09:10 British Summer Time 28 July 2023

    England v Denmark (09:30 BST)

    Manchester City and Venezuela player Deyna Castellanos is in attendance at the Sydney Football Stadium for England's clash against Denmark.

    The England squad includes fellow Manchester City players Alex Greenwood, Lauren Hemp, Esme Morgan, Laura Coombs, Chloe Kelly and Ellie Roebuck.

    Deyna CastellanosImage source, PA Media
  16. 'Lionesses need to relax and show what they can do'published at 09:07 British Summer Time 28 July 2023

    England v Denmark (09:30 BST)

    Rachel Brown-Finnis
    Ex-England goalkeeper on BBC Two

    Alex Greenwood and Lauren Hemp share a laugh in training.Image source, Getty Images

    The biggest problem in the match against Haiti was the lack of rhythm; it was very stop-start, it felt tense.

    It felt like every player was playing with the weight of the world on their shoulders, which can happen in the opening game of a tournament.

    Against Denmark they need to do the opposite; play with a relaxed energy, knowing that you are a brilliant team and just going out there and showing it.

  17. 'Bold team selection'published at 09:06 British Summer Time 28 July 2023

    England v Denmark (09:30 BST)

    Fara Williams
    Former England midfielder on BBC One

    The team selection is bold from Sarina Wiegman, but the right decisions have been made in my opinion.

    I'm excited, it is a more front-foot Lionesses side that we are going to see today.

  18. Lionesses receive history lessonpublished at 09:05 British Summer Time 28 July 2023

    England v Denmark (09:30 BST)

    Emma Sanders
    BBC Sport at Sydney Football Stadium

    England captain Millie Bright announced she would be wearing a range of armbands throughout the tournament in the absence of the ‘OneLove’ armband.

    For today’s match the Lionesses’ captain will wear the ‘Unite for Indigenous People’ armband.

    Since their arrival in Australia the team have received three welcome ceremonies by local aboriginal communities.

    They were joined on a Zoom call this week by former Australian player Karen Menzies on the history of Indigenous people - she was the first aboriginal person to play for the Matildas. She will be in the stands today.

    All Lionesses will wear black armbands in tribute to former men’s international Trevor Francis.

  19. England captain Bright on what keeps her determinedpublished at 09:04 British Summer Time 28 July 2023

    England v Denmark (09:30 BST)

    Watch an interview with Millie Bright as she opens up about her experiences with childhood illness, being made England's World Cup captain and the unwavering drive of the Lionesses.

  20. England supporters in good spirits in Sydneypublished at 09:03 British Summer Time 28 July 2023

    England v Denmark (09:30 BST)

    Shaimaa Khalil
    BBC News, Sydney

    England fansImage source, BBC Sport

    The crowd are chanting: "It's coming home! It's coming home! football's come home!"