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.

England's Keira Walsh picks up an injury during the FIFA Women's World Cup 2023, Group D match at the Sydney Football Stadium in Moore Park, Australia, on Friday, July 28.

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.”

England's Chloe Kelly in action.

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.

Denmark's Amalie Vangsgaard hits the post.

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.  

Georgia Stanway of England and Stine Ballisager of Denmark compete for the ball.

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.

USA's Lindsey Horan heads to score her team's first goal against Netherlands on July 27, 2023.

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.

Denmark's Katrine Veje in action at Sydney Football Stadium in Sydney, Australia.

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.

Reece James of Chelsea celebrates with the Champions League Trophy alongside his sister, Lauren James, following a victory in the UEFA Champions League Final between Manchester City and Chelsea FC at Estadio do Dragao on May 29, 2021 in Porto, Portugal.

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's Millie Bright and Alex Greenwood celebrate after Lauren James scores their first goal.

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 receives medical attention after sustaining an injury.

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.

Keira Walsh is stretchered off the field.

England's forward Lauren James scores her team's first goal.

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.

England's Chloe Kelly, left, challenges for the ball with Denmark's Katrine Veje.

Matigan Smith, Briony Smith and Dan Smith (from left) are from Dunedin but supporting the Lionesses against Denmark tonight.

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.”

The fan site in Wellington is packed for Friday’s game between England and Denmark.

“Go England!” she added.

Sophia Braun celebrates after scoring Argentina's first goal against South Africa.

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.

Lauren James of England, right, celebrates after scoring her team's first goal.

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.

Denmark's goalkeeper Lene Christensen concedes a goal scored by England's forward Lauren 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.