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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Sport
Louise Taylor

China 1-6 England: player ratings from Women’s World Cup group D game

Rachel Daly (left) scored a brilliant volley to cap an all-round excellent display.
Rachel Daly (left) scored a brilliant volley to cap an all-round excellent display. Photograph: Nigel Keene/ProSports/Shutterstock

England (3-4-1-2)

Mary Earps Showed excellent concentration levels as she saved smartly from Wu Chengshu and then Yao Lingwei after long periods of inactivity. 6/10

Jess Carter Handed the right-sided role in the back three and looked instantly at home. Steady. 7

Millie Bright Deployed in the centre of the defensive trinity and enjoyed her best game of the tournament. Initiated the move that prompted Alessia Russo’s opener courtesy of an incisive tackle on Lou Jiahu and fine pass with outside of her right foot. 8

Alex Greenwood The left-sided central defender proved poise personified. Created the third goal for Lauren James. 8

Lucy Bronze Extremely well suited to England’s new-look wing-back-propelled formation and, fully restored to former glories, proved a key component of their attacking armoury. Booked after conceding an arguably harsh penalty for handball. 8

Georgia Stanway The direct gameplan sometimes bypassed her, but she relished the flexibility to drift across the pitch. Replaced by Laura Coombs at half-time and was missed. 6

Katie Zelem With Keira Walsh injured, the Manchester United midfielder made her World Cup debut and did a lot of unsung work in supporting James and enabling her to weave her magic. Impressive. 8

Rachel Daly Is there any position Daly cannot play with distinction? Sure enough, she impressed in a new incarnation at left wing-back, even finding time to volley England’s sixth goal. 8

Lauren James Deployed in the hole behind Alessia Russo and Lauren Hemp. Her beautifully weighted pass conjured Hemp’s goal before she brilliantly half-volleyed England’s third. Unlucky to see a wonderful curving strike disallowed for offside but, undeterred, volleyed England’s fourth. 9

Alessia Russo Benefited from playing alongside Hemp in England’s fluid formation and scored the opener after four minutes after a neat exchange with her attacking partner. 7

Lauren Hemp Helped to create the first goal for Russo and rediscovered much of her recently mislaid attacking dynamism. Hit England’s second goal. 8

Substitutes: Laura Coombs (for Stanway ht) Struggled to get into things, 5; Chloe Kelly (for Hemp 72) Scored England’s fifth, 6; Niamh Charles (for Bronze 72) 6; Beth England (for Russo 72) 6; Ella Toone (for James 81) 6.

China (4-4-2)

Zhu 5; Li 5 (Wu H 76), Wang Shanshan 5, Yao W 5, Gao 5; Wang Shuang 7 (Gu 76), Yao L 7 (Dou 90), Yang 5, Zhang L 5; Wu C 6 (Shen 90), Lou 6 (Wang L 90).

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