England’s Lauren James will be suspended when the Lionesses face Colombia or Jamaica on Saturday for a place in the semi-finals as they aim to add the World Cup to their European crown.
England needed to survive a nervy penalty shootout against Nigeria on Monday as they scraped into the quarter-finals of the Women’s World Cup after playing the whole of extra-time with only 10 players. England playmaker Lauren James, the team’s two-goal hero in the 6-1 win against China, received a red card for violent conduct after a needless stamp on Michelle Alozie at the 87th-minute mark, leaving the team one player shot in the extra-time.
Nigeria had the better of the chances, but the European Champions held out for a 0-0 draw after 120 minutes and prevailed 4-2 in the shootout in front of almost 50,000 spectators in Brisbane.
James will be suspended when the Lionesses face Colombia or Jamaica on Saturday for a place in the semi-finals as they aim to add the World Cup to their European crown.
Nigeria manager Randy Waldrum said his side had shown their inexperience after James went off.
Lauren James is shown a red card. pic.twitter.com/m9RywPHwPi
— Caity Foord 🏴 (@caitcaitfoord) August 7, 2023