'no Ceiling' On Talent Of 'unstoppable' James

"There's nary ceiling connected her talent - we're looking astatine a imaginable world star."

The plaudits were galore for Lauren James pursuing England's superb 4-0 Group D triumph complete nan Netherlands, but nan words of Brighton striker Nikita Parris summed up really highly she is rated.

When nan defending European champions had their backs against nan wall astatine Euro 2025, nan Chelsea guardant stepped up to deliver.

James dazzled against nan Dutch, scoring nan Lionesses' first and 3rd goals arsenic they went from a imaginable early exit to nan cusp of nan quarter-finals.

Following disapproval successful their opening-game conclusion by France, she provided much-needed inspiration for England to declare a captious first triumph successful nan tournament.

Her first onslaught was superb arsenic she vanished disconnected a saccharine counter-attack pinch 3 tight touches to get nan shot retired of her feet and decorativeness pinch a dreamy thrust into nan apical area from nan separator of nan box.

The 2nd connected nan hr people was efficaciously nan infinitesimal that sealed nan occurrence astatine 3-0 - a calm sweeping first-time decorativeness into nan bottommost area from 10 yards retired aft Ella Toone's effort had been saved.

James' nonchalant ceremony of pretending to put her hands successful her pockets and staring down nan camera almost does her capacity a disservice.

The goals were acold from regular and successful a pressured situation pinch truthful overmuch astatine liking for her team.

They were typical strikes by a typical subordinate to kickstart England's Euros defence into life.

James was besides described arsenic "unstoppable" and a "massive talent" by England team-mate Toone aft nan awesome showing.

Defender Jess Carter added nan 23-year-old was a "phenomenal player" who "thrives nether pressure", while Georgia Stanway called her "class".

The England campy emotion James, who responded superbly to a below-par capacity from her and nan squad against France connected Saturday.

She had nan fewest magnitude of touches successful that crippled of each nan starting players, earlier being substituted pinch England 2-0 down aft 60 minutes.

Undeterred, head Sarina Wiegman gave James moreover much attacking state against nan Dutch, allowing her to roam successful nan inside-right transmission and often making precocious darts guardant to overload nan box.

Those runs often led to disorder successful nan Dutch defence pinch who should person been marking James erstwhile she skipped betwixt nan lines? A midfielder dropping backmost aliases a defender pushing up and leaving abstraction successful behind?

"The assortment of threat James provides for this England broadside is tremendous," erstwhile England goalkeeper Karen Bardsley told BBC Radio 5 Live. "If I was facing her I would person surgery my ankles from being turned wrong and out."

James took nan joint-most shots successful England's triumph (five), each while having nan game's champion passing accuracy (93.8%) and regularly carving retired chances for team-mates.

"We want James successful our starting 11. That is her position coming disconnected that right-hand-side," added ex-England skipper Steph Houghton connected BBC One.

"Having that protect work is not her game. We request her connected nan ball, we request her to make things happen.

"That was a very assured capacity and a awesome tactical alteration by Sarina Wiegman."

Well done if you remembered we've been present before.

James was besides England's imaginative unit successful their tally to nan World Cup last 2 years ago, moreover if she did miss 2 matches done suspension and was often constricted to appearances disconnected nan bench.

She has now been straight progressive successful 8 goals successful conscionable 5 starts astatine awesome tournaments (World Cups and European Championships - 5 goals, 3 assists), nan astir of immoderate subordinate who has appeared astatine some Euro 2025 and nan 2023 World Cup.

And, aft England's grounds goalscorer Ellen White, James is only nan 2nd Lioness to nett doubly successful some a World Cup and European Championship match.

"Lauren James has a awesome aura. She is cool, calm, and collected," White said connected BBC One.

"I would emotion to person immoderate of that talent. England activity defensively for James and it gives her nan state to roam."