England 1-0 Denmark: England beats Denmark thanks to stunning strike

Our live coverage has ended. Catch up on the highlights of England vs. Denmark below and read our match report here.

Mixed emotions from the England camp after its 1-0 win against Denmark.

Lauren James scored the only goal of the game in the sixth minute, curling home an exquisite effort from just outside the box, but the game was overshadowed by a serious-looking injury sustained by England star Keira Walsh.

The midfielder was in tears as she was stretchered off during the first half. TV cameras appeared to show the 26-year-old telling the England bench that she had “done my knee.”

England is already without defender Leah Williamson and forward Beth Mead, who both suffered anterior cruciate ligaments last season. Williamson, Mead and Walsh played major roles in England’s Euro 2022 title win.

The win, though, all but guarantees England’s progression into the knockout rounds – its place will be confirmed should China fail to beat Haiti later on Friday.

Read the full match report here.

Next up:

The Women’s World Cup continues Saturday with three more fixtures.

Sweden will take on Italy, France plays Brazil and Panama faces Jamaica.

After impressing in a 1-0 defeat to England, Haiti will go into its second Women’s World Cup match, against China, confident of springing an upset.

This is the first time Haiti has appeared at a Women’s World Cup – a watershed moment for a nation used to making global headlines for less favorable reasons.

Today, Haiti is a country scarred by the effects of political unrest and natural disasters.

“We know how much joy the game of football brings back to Haiti,” player Danielle Etienne told CNN ahead of the tournament.

“We’re just excited to continue to do that as well. We don’t want this to be the end of it.”

You can read more about Haiti’s incredible journey to the World Cup here.

Chelsea and England men’s star Reece James took to social media to say he was “proud” of his sister, Lauren, after she scored the winning goal in England’s 1-0 victory against Denmark.

On X, formerly known as Twitter, James posted a childhood picture of himself and his sister in matching soccer kits, with the caption: “Proud.”

The siblings are already history makers, becoming the first brother and sister to make senior England appearances in the modern era.

After her heroics on Friday, Lauren was named Player of the Match.

With back-to-back scrappy 1-0 victories over Haiti and Denmark, England is yet to show its best football at this World Cup.

But the European champion is now on the verge of reaching the last 16 and head coach Sarina Wiegman is happy with how her players battled against Denmark.

“I think we started well, we played well and then we had a little stage in the first half that we lost balls we didn’t have to lose,” she told the BBC.

“We have the horrible moment with Kiera and the second half was a fight. We adapted to the new situation.

“We really had to fight for the win and that’s what we did, so I’m very proud of the team.”

Wiegman said she had no news on Walsh’s apparent knee injury, only saying that “it looked serious.”

“It’s not nice seeing a player … going off on the [stretcher], but the team picked up really well.”

Nothing flashy from England but it gets the job done.

Lauren James’ stunning strike was the difference in an otherwise cagey match against Denmark.

The Danes never really got a hold of the game, but did manage to create a number of chances on the counter attack – Vangsgaard coming the closest after her header hit the post.

Defeat not a disaster for Denmark who can still qualify with a result in its final Group game against Haiti.

England, meanwhile, will qualify if China fails to beat Haiti in Friday’s final match.

So close for Denmark as Amalie Vangsgaard hits the post with a header in the 87th minute.

It was a great attempt by the striker, but England is saved by the finest of margins.

Only five of the 90 minutes left. A Denmark equalizer doesn’t look likely.

England has control and is not taking any risks.

Fans sung along during halftime as “Football’s Coming Home” – England fans’ favorite soccer song – played at the FIFA fan zone in Wellington.

While most are England supporters, among the crowd are a handful of US fans – including Kerry Huber and her family.

Huber’s dad was English, she told CNN, and her son Wesley is wearing an England jersey to watch the game. “We’re just rooting for good soccer.”

“England’s doing pretty good,” her son Wesley said.

“The US have a good chance too,” he added, though he admits Thursday’s tie against the Netherlands “was not the best US game.”

Despite that result, the family, who have plans to see the USWNT play in Auckland next, aren’t discouraged.

“It means the game we’re going to will be very good and exciting,” Kerry said.  

Second half starts as the first half did – with England controlling the game.

No real opportunities to speak of yet, though. The Danes will have to start taking more risks as the clock ticks on.

A little less than 30 minutes to play.

The US Women’s National Team’s 1-1 draw against the Netherlands is the most watched Women’s World Cup group stage match in US history, according to US Soccer.

The match drew 6,429,000 viewers on FOX and an additional 1.51 million viewers across Telemundo, Peacock, Universo and Telemundo streaming platforms – group stage records for both England and Spanish-language TV in the US, the federation said.

The match peaked at 8,451,000 viewers overall on FOX platforms and was also the most-streamed group stage match in FOX Sports history, drawing in an average-minute audience of 196,938.

The US takes on Portugal on Tuesday looking to secure a place in the knockout stages.

The game is finely poised.

Denmark will want to build on the momentum enjoyed at the end of the first period, while the Lionesses will look to get back on track.

Game on.

It’s fair to say that talent runs in the James family.

Lauren James, the scorer of England’s opening goal against Denmark, and her brother Reece are the first brother and sister to become senior England internationals in the modern era.

Reece will be well known to followers of the men’s game as one of the world’s best full backs. He helped Chelsea win the Champions League in 2021.

“Both of us are supportive of each other, where I will go to his games and he will go to my games when he can,” Lauren told England Football in September.

“We kind of leave each other to it though. Anything to do with football, we both know what we need to do so we just leave the other one to it. 

“I think with our age gap that helps, with it only being two years … He is a funny guy.”

England go into halftime ahead but it’s not been comfortable for the Lionesses.

Denmark has grown into the match and wasted a couple of good chances.

It all looked so positive for England after Lauren James scored the opener, but the performance levels have dropped and the injury to Keira Walsh has left a sour note.

England’s Keira Walsh is stretchered off the pitch in tears after suffering what seems to be a knee injury.

The midfielder fell awkwardly when sliding to intercept a pass and stayed down in visible pain.

Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries have been a major talking point ahead of this year’s tournament – although it’s too early to say what Walsh has injured.

England looked rusty in its opening match against Haiti but the players have been the opposite today.

The reigning European champion is dominating possession and looks sharp.

James, sister of Chelsea defender Reece James, looks dangerous every time she’s on the ball.

The Lionesses had failed to score for over five hours from open play coming into this game. It took James just six minutes to change that.

Early signs suggest that won’t be the only goal we see during this match. Denmark had been holding on – though the Danes have started to create a couple of chances on the breakaway.

At least 100 people are at the FIFA fan site in Wellington, New Zealand to watch England take on Denmark.

Both teams have a lot to prove after less than convincing performances in their opening matches.

The room burst into applause as England went up 1-0 minutes after just six minutes thanks to Lauren James’ goal.

Briony Smith, who’s here watching with her dad Dan and friend Matigan Smith (no relation), told CNN ahead of the game that she’s feeling “hype.”

“Go England!” she added.

To recap what’s already happened today. In a thrilling Women’s World Cup encounter, Argentina completed a dramatic comeback from 2-0 down to earn a 2-2 draw against South Africa.

It was South Africa’s first point at a Women’s World Cup – but it will be bittersweet after the Banyana Banyana conceded two goals in just five minutes towards the end of the match when they looked on course for victory.

A stunning, dipping strike from Sophia Braun to make it 2-1 was the highlight of the match and will no doubt go down as one of the best goals of this World Cup.

Both South Africa and Argentina have one point from their opening two group matches, with the South Americans facing Sweden last and South Africa taking on Italy.

You can read more about the match here.

That didn’t take long. After just six minutes, Lauren James gives England the lead with a stunning strike.

The attacker picked the ball up, took a touch and curled a beautiful shot into the bottom corner from outside the box.

What a start for England and what a goal by James.

We are underway at the Sydney Football Stadium as England’s players look to put their shaky start behind them.

Denmark may not be favorites but will take confidence from the performances of the underdogs in this year’s tournament.

The Danes kickoff and we’re away.

England fans are optimistic going into the game against Denmark despite the European champion struggling in its opener.

The Lionesses battled to a 1-0 victory over World Cup debutant Haiti — but many had expected them to win the game easily.

“Against Haiti, we were expecting a bit of a bigger result but we’re hoping tonight’s our night,” Englishman Will Parker told CNN outside the fan zone in Wellington, New Zealand.
“This is going to be deciding our fortunes for the rest of the cup, so it’s all to play for,” he said. “We’re hoping for a win.”

His friend Nell Gear was more optimistic, saying: “It’s coming home.”

Despite being one of the hot favorites to win this year’s title, England got off to a shaky start against Haiti in its opening Group D game.

The Lionesses managed to win 1-0 but many had expected them to beat their opponent, which was making its debut in the tournament, more easily.

In truth, Haiti was unlucky not to score against England, which will be looking for a more convincing performance against Denmark.

History is certainly in England’s favor, with the Danes having lost four out of the last five times the teams have played, failing to score in three of those encounters.

However, given the performance of underdogs in this year’s competition, there is certainly precedent here for an upset.

England and Denmark won their opening games so can qualify to the knockout stage should they win and results elsewhere go their way.

England vs. Denmark kicks off at 4:30 a.m. ET on Friday.

In the the United Kingdom, the game will be shown live by the BBC.

In the United States, the match will air on local Fox channels. Viewers can also stream the game by signing in with their TV provider at foxsports.com or on the Fox Sports app. Telemundo and Peacock are providing Spanish-language coverage.

A full breakdown of media rights holders in each country is available on the FIFA website.

For the first time ever, the Women’s World Cup is being hosted by two countries.

Australia and New Zealand are home to this year’s tournament, which takes place through August 20.

This is also the first time that the event features 32 teams, expanding from 24. Eight countries are making their Women’s World Cup debut: Haiti, Morocco, Panama, the Philippines, Portugal, the Republic of Ireland, Vietnam and Zambia.

The United States is the two-time defending champion, having won in 2015 and 2019.

See more of the best photos from the tournament here.

On paper it was a mismatch; the European champion and one of the World Cup favorites England facing tournament debutant Haiti.

But World Cup matches aren’t won on paper, as the Caribbean nation matched the Lionesses almost every step of the way in the sides’ opening match, eventually succumbing 1-0 only after Georgia Stanway scored from a retaken penalty.

Several impressive saves from Haiti goalkeeper Kerly Theus held the scoreline to just one goal difference, despite England mustering 19 shots on goal, 10 of them on target.

Late on, Haiti even had a chance to equalize but two brilliant saves in quick succession from England goalkeeper Mary Earps kept her side ahead, as the Lionesses ultimately ground out a scrappy victory.

“They were very dangerous on the counter attack, so that’s something we’ll work on in training this week. Mary came up with a big save and everybody played their part. Moments like that are why she’s a top keeper. The most important thing is that we’ve got three points.”

Read the match report here.

With a tied score and two minutes left to play after a stunning second-half comeback, China’s women’s soccer team finally scored the goal that had eluded them for 16 years.

That winning goal, which earned the team their first AFC Asian Cup since 2006, reverberated across the country. Fans who’d long been left hungry for glory from a men’s or women’s national team scrawled exuberant posts on social media, and at least one prominent sportscaster admitting to crying tears of joy.

Eighteen months later, that win also landed China at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, where the team and its coach Shui Qingxia have a chance to show that was just the opening shot in their rise to reclaim its place as a dominant force in the women’s sport.

“We will fight game by game,” vowed head coach Shui, who is a veteran of the golden era of Chinese women’s soccer — a period that saw the team take silver in the 1996 Olympics and lose the 1999 World Cup by a single penalty kick against longtime rivals the United States.

Much has changed in the women’s sport since that time. The rapid development of women’s soccer programs across Europe and the Americas has fielded a new generation of powerful teams-to-beat. And China is now fighting from behind.

The team, known as the Steel Roses for their perseverance, has already lost what was considered a key match against Denmark on Saturday in Australia.

They will face off against World Cup debutantes Haiti on Friday. Even if they take that match, they will need to get past world No. 4-ranked England to advance from the group stage.

Read the full story here.

England’s starting XI:

Denmark’s starting XI:

Denmark defeated China 1-0 in their opening Group D match.

The Danes took the lead in thrilling fashion in the last minute of regulation time when substitute Amalie Vangsgaard — having been on the pitch less than five minutes — headed home from a Pernille Harder corner.

There was still time for some more late drama in the six minutes of added time as China almost equalized, but the ball bobbled off the woodwork and was scrambled clear.

The goal wouldn’t have counted however, with multiple Chinese players offside.

The last minutes changed the complexion of a game that had been destined to end in a scoreless draw, as both teams struggled to find an incisive edge.

After triumphing at the Women’s Euros in 2022, England is one of the favorites to win the Women’s World Cup this year.

The team is brimming with world-class players, such as Barcelona’s Lucy Bronze and Keira Walsh, and possesses one of the most diligent international coaches in the game.

Since Sarina Wiegman took charge of the Lionesses in September 2021, the squad has transformed into something of a juggernaut.

England have lost only once during her reign — a friendly against Australia in April.

It’s an astonishing record that also includes winning Euro 2022, but in an interview with CNN Sport’s Amanda Davies, Wiegman was cautious of the high expectations surrounding her team heading into this year’s World Cup.

“It’s very unpredictable and yes, of course, we’re one of the favorites because we’re the European champions,” the 53-year-old said ahead of the tournament, adding that life changed for the players after the memorable victory at Wembley Stadium in London.
“We have done really well over the last year, but I think it’s very, very hard.
“I think there are many, many contenders and I think we are one of them. We’re just trying to be at our best level, and yes, we have a dream.
“Of course, we don’t go there just to play a tournament. We go there, of course, to win it just like the other countries. And we’ll see what happens. We take it game by game.”

Read CNN’s interview with Wiegman here.

Argentina scored two second half goals to settle for a 2-2 draw against South Africa in the Group G match Friday morning at Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin, New Zealand.

With both nations looking for a maiden victory at the Women’s World Cup, it was South Africa’s Linda Motlhalo who opened the scoring in the 30th minute, on a pass from Thembi Kgatlana.

Kgatlana doubled Banyana Banyana’s lead in the 66th minute, striking home a pass from Jermaine Seoposenwe.

Argentina responded with back-to-back goals in a span of five minutes in the second half. Sophia Braun scored the first in the 74th minute on a magnificent half-volley from outside the box.

The Argentines then drew the match level in the 79th minute on a goal by Romina Núñez, who buried a glancing header on a cross by Yamila Rodriguez.

Both teams will next play on August 2, with Argentina taking on one of the tournament favorites, Sweden. South Africa, who tallied the nation’s first-ever point in the Women’s World Cup, will play against Italy.

South Africa could be without captain Refiloe Jane for their next match, as she was stretchered off after going up for a header and landing awkwardly on her left ankle. 

As Ali Riley and her New Zealand team claimed a surprise victory over Norway in the opening match of the 2023 Women’s World Cup on Thursday, the Football Ferns captain could be seen sporting a white and blue armband emblazoned with the words “Unite for Inclusion.”

In contrast, Steph Catley — who captained Australia in the absence of regular skipper Sam Kerr, who was injured — was wearing a similarly colored armband that said, “Unite for Indigenous Peoples” as the Matildas battled to a 1-0 win over Ireland in Sydney.

Those expressions represent two of the eight options that captains at the showpiece event can choose from after armbands became an unlikely talking point at the men’s event in 2022.

The eight different armbands each carry a “specific message” according to FIFA, falling under the governing body’s “Football Unites the World” campaign and in partnership with various United Nations’ agencies and the World Health Organization (WHO).

Read more here.

In a closely-fought battle and rematch of the 2019 World Cup final, the United States Women’s National Team (USWNT) and the Netherlands — two of the world’s top teams — came to a 1-1 draw on Thursday at the 2023 Women’s World Cup.

Chants of “U-S-A, U-S-A!” reverberating around the Wellington Regional Stadium as the team faced the Netherlands in their second match of the tournament soon dissipated after the Dutch took an early lead.

Midfielder Jill Roord put the Netherlands on the board in the 17th minute, finding the back of the net past USWNT goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher.

It was the first time the USWNT trailed in a Women’s World Cup match since 2011 in the quarterfinal against Brazil. Prior to Thursday, the US had gone 17 straight matches without trailing — the longest streak by any team in the tournament’s history.

The Netherlands, meanwhile, was hungry for revenge after their 2-0 loss to the US in the 2019 World Cup.

Despite trailing at the half, the USWNT outshot the Netherlands 9-2 in the first half – and all their scoring chances finally came to fruition in the 62nd minute.

US captain Lindsey Horan scored the equalizer with a thumping header from a corner kick, prompting ecstatic celebrations in the stands.

Read more here.

Soccer players at the 2023 Women’s World Cup will on average earn just 25 cents for every dollar earned by men at their World Cup last year, a new CNN analysis found.

Still, that is an improvement: last time, in 2019, it was less than 8 cents per dollar, according to data provided by world governing body FIFA and global players’ union FIFPRO.

The gender pay gap is very much alive and kicking at the tournament in Australia and New Zealand.

FIFA announced in June that, for the first time, about $49 million of the record $110 million Women’s World Cup prize money would go directly to individual players — at least $30,000 each for participating and $270,000 to each player on the winning squad.

The rest of the pot is going to be split between participating federations who will decide what share of this money to allocate to teams and players — if any at all. In addition to prize money, FIFA committed to paying $42 million to the federations and players’ clubs for Women’s World Cup preparations.

When asked for comment, soccer’s world governing body referred CNN to what FIFA President Gianni Infantino said in March when the organization announced details of the prize money on offer at this year’s tournament.

Read more the pay gap here.

Nigeria stunned co-hosts Australia at the Women’s World Cup on Thursday, earning a famous 3-2 victory.

Emily van Egmond sent the home fans into delirium just before the interval, tapping home a sweeping move to give Australia the lead.

With the stadium bouncing as the Australia fans celebrated, Uchenna Kanu delivered the first sucker punch to dampen the mood at the Brisbane Stadium, somehow managing to scramble home a scuffed cross to score Nigeria’s first goal of the 2023 tournament.

In the second half, a close-range header from Osinachi Ohale and Asisat Oshoala’s finish from a tight angle extended Nigeria’s lead — making Oshoala the first African player to score at three Women’s World Cups.

And although Alanna Kennedy scored in the 10th minute of added time to give Australia late hope, Nigeria held on for a memorable victory to send the Super Falcons top of Group B.

Read more here.