Lauren James gives Lionesses reason to dream as ‘proper’ England bounce back at Euro 2025 | OneFootball

James gives Sarina Wiegman’s side lift-off as stunning victory against the Netherlands puts the rest of Europe on alert

Sarina Wiegman’s England have earned a few nicknames over the past few weeks.

Following a thumping 4-0 victory over the Netherlands, members of the squad were saying how their performance was “proper England.”

But it would perhaps be best to dub this side ‘Lauren James’ England’ after her stunning display.

James stole the show in Switzerland on Wednesday, inspiring the Lionesses to a win that got the defence of their European crown back on track.

James was the star of the show against the Netherlands

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The 23-year-old scored England’s opening goal with a thumping finish and netted the third just before the hour mark to kill the game.

After a quiet opening game against France, which was James’ first start since April, the winger terrorised the Netherlands.

Deployed on the right flank, James had space to shine and her opening goal came after she cut inside before lashing the ball into the top corner with her left foot.

“She’s a special player and that’s what you see,” said Wiegman. “I think she can do even better. Of course, she has been out for a while, but she is really back on it, and that looked really good.”

James feels like the face of this ‘New England’ that is determined to make its mark at Euro 2025.

She is one of 10 players in the squad who were not part of the group that won the Euros on home soil three years ago.

James, however, was the only one of that group to start on Wednesday and she is emerging as the star of this team. She has been directly involved in 16 goals in her last 13 starts for England.

“There is pressure on her to perform, but the best players thrive under pressure and that’s what Lauren does,” said England defender Jess Carter. “She’s a phenomenal player. We all know that she’s an incredible talent, and I’m glad she’s on my team.”

Reigning champions England got their Euro 2025 campaign up and running

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Wiegman would be wise to build her side around James, who on Wednesday became just the second England player in history to score a brace at a Euros and World Cup.

Two years ago at the World Cup, that looked like being the plan when Keira Walsh injured her knee in the second game of the tournament. England shifted to a 3-4-1-2 formation and James was the biggest beneficiary, thriving as the team’s No10.

At this Euros, Wiegman altered things after England’s opening defeat to France and it has brought the best out of James.

Against France, James struggled as a No10 in a 4-2-3-1 formation, starved of space and time on the ball.

Moved out to the right against the Netherlands, with Ella Toone deployed as the No10, James looked far more threatening.

She linked up well with Lucy Bronze, her team-mate at Chelsea, and there was a balance to England’s play that was missing before.

Just when people were doubting her golden touch, Wiegman appears to have found a winning formula once again.

England are now on course to make the knockout stages. They are second in Group D and will guarantee a spot in the quarter-finals with victory over Wales on Saturday.

But the Lionesses, will have aspirations of going far further than that and, with James in this kind of form, they are right to dream.

“She is a massive, massive talent,” said Toone. “When you've got LJ on a day like today, she’s unstoppable.”