You could say England rode their luck, except that’s only because it keeps going against them. It feels the fate of this entire campaign is that just as Sarina Wiegman solves one problem – in this case through the genius of Lauren James – a bigger one presents itself.
The European champions, at last, looked exactly that as well as potential world champions as the England manager got her system right to secure this 1-0 win over Denmark, only to quickly lose their one irreplaceable player. It had such a huge effect, not least on poor Keira Walsh herself.
Wiegman and the rest of England will now wait for news of what this injury is, as she clearly motioned to her knee. Until then, the question will weigh there over whether you can win a World Cup without Walsh, Leah Williamson and Beth Mead.
Wiegman at least has the burgeoning James, who gave one of those vintage landmark performances a young talent does in winning a World Cup game with a moment of brilliance. Her early goal was sumptuous.
England are almost certainly into the last 16, having battled to a second successive win. That isn’t to be overlooked but it’s been a grind so far. The other side to that is that this can be good for campaigns. It’s how Spain, as an example, got through to win the men’s World Cup in 2010. There can be that sense of a side just learning to graft through, to answer questions.
The main issue, though, is that Wiegman possibly faces the biggest question of all. How many times can she keep refitting this team in the face of absences to keep it at champion level?
Until there is actually confirmation of Walsh’s injury, it is almost futile to speculate, beyond the discussion of the facts. The 26-year-old immediately knew something was wrong, as she could be seen signaling that she had to come off as she motioned to her knee. It didn’t look good.
The great frustration, that is almost always the case in these situations, was that it happened from something so innocuous. Walsh reached for a ball near the centre circle.
That did hint at one of the only weaknesses in England’s game up to that point. As against Haiti, they had been a bit loose at the back.
The other frustration was that it had been the only issue with England up to then. They looked so much better than in that first match. The first 25 minutes were a hugely convincing period of football. There was obviously the benefit of finally having 90 minutes of competitive football to hone them, something that has been a factor in a lot of this World Cup. The better squads have felt the effects of not playing proper games for two months.
England celebrate breaking the deadlock after Lauren James’ goal— (REUTERS)
There was more to it than that, though. With Wiegman going for the typically innovative move of putting Rachel Daly, the Women’s Super League top scorer, at left-back, and with James also on the left, there was so much more balance to the side. It looked like it fitted again.
In her more natural position, James knew exactly where to go, which areas to create real danger in. That was illustrated within minutes, as she got the ball just outside the box and curled the most divine strike around Danish goalkeeper Lene Christensen.
It was no less than England deserved. The mood was right. The approach was forceful. They looked a threat in every move forward. It seemed like a statement victory – like Spain, Germany and Brazil have offered – could be on.
The only slight concern was how those issues remained at the back. There’s just that greater laxness. It didn’t help that Rikke Marie Madsen almost scored with Denmark’s first meaningful attack.
The turn to create the chance was admittedly supreme, and it required something so mercurial to make it happen. It was more how fragile the lead seemed, as against Haiti.
The mood soon changed entirely, as Walsh went down. It became a different game. Denmark sensed some opportunity. England just sought to get through it.
This was entirely understandable.
Keira Walsh was left on crutches after victory over Denmark— (Getty Images)
They’d lost their one tactically essential player and felt her anguish. They’d lost their system.
It asked a lot of the players. By the end, they were trudging through, Denmark doing all the running. One overlap produced the cross that almost undermined all of England’s efforts.
The ball was flighted so invitingly for Amalie Vangsgaard, whose header bounced off the post.
It was a let-off. It was also another test passed, if just about.
It could be said England were lucky. The squad might point to everything else happening around them.
They can also, almost certainly, point to a last-16 place at the top of the group.
