Back from injury just in time for Euro 2025, Lauren James has already shone in the first three group games in England. The young Chelsea striker should be another lioness star artists against Sweden in the quarter -finals.
After a start of surprise against France in the first group’s group game match, Lauren James followed with a splint against the Netherlands and a masterclass against Wales in a 6-1 victory to take England to the quarter-final.
However, the Chelsea striker had just returned from a thigh injury, which she would breastfeed since early April.
“She trained with us at Chelsea throughout June”, “ said Camille Abily, assistant coach of Sonia Bompastor at the London Club.
“She did not have much vacation, and her preparation started earlier as the others to try to be as fit as possible.”
Chelsea staff “did not necessarily expect it to start and play 60 minutes” against the Blue, but they noted that “she could have marked very quickly” with two early chances.
In England, Sarina Wiegman’s decision to start it as soon as she got back on an injury was criticized. But Abily sees him as a sign of confidence on the part of the staff of England, for a player who needs it.
“She is a very talented player, but she has a lot of doubt. It may not show when she is on the ground, but she simply needs to have this relationship of trust with her coach”, “ explained Sonia Bompastor in her interview with Flashscore At the end of February.
James’ influence on matches
It was a confidence that she restored four days later to Sarina Wiegman, after being gone from the midfield to the right wing after the rout of the French national team.
There, she rediscovered all her ability to play head-on, tackle and serve her teammates at the right rhythm.
“Its release makes its game very fluid,” noted the English coach at the final whistle.
Lucy Bronze, who is also her teammate in Chelsea, is a fan: “We know that everything you have to do is give the ball to ‘LJ’ in dangerous positions, and a goal can come from anywhere. It is probably the best (…) when it comes to creating something special.”
This was the case in the second decisive match in England against the Netherlands, when the right striker opened the scoring with a turn end of the edge of the area, before repeating the trick with another effort of the left foot after the Dutch defense failed to manage the ball.
“We see her doing the training all the time”, “ said English striker Alessia Russo at the press conference, who is looking to “Find Lauren James in these regions as much as possible”.
“She is one of those players who can change a match alone. She has the ability to eliminate, to mark even in the middle of three opponents. She is very skilful in front of the goal, she likes to shoot, whether on right or left foot, she is able to shoot in the long term and to mark at any time,” Adds Camille Abily, who asked her to joke in front of the euros “Do not mark against France.”
“We have seen a very good Lauren James, but to be one of the best players in the world, you must also increase your range.”
Aim for greater consistency
“Lauren is good to defend because physically, she is very impressive during her first touch. So she is difficult to pass when she is really worried”, “ said her coach, echoing Wiegman, who believes she “Works very hard when it has to do it.”
Abily is certain: “With a little more consistency, she could become one of the best players in the world.
“I am in many great players, but in terms of pure talent, Lauren is in the top three. She is able to do exceptional things”, “ She adds.
After a season marked by injuries – she only played nine championship games this season – the number seven of England has another chance of showing its value against Sweden in the quarter -finals of Euro 2025.
(Tagstotranslate) Football