WWC: England set to wrap up the group stage against China
England Women will wrap up the Women’s World Cup 2023 group stage with a fixture against China PR Women at the Hindmarsh Stadium on Tuesday.
The Lionesses are currently leading the group and are on the verge of qualifying for the last 16, while China are also hoping to book their place in the knockout rounds
China have reached the knockout rounds in all seven appearances at the Women’s World Cup, but they have work to do if they are to maintain their 100% record.
After beginning their campaign with a 1-0 defeat to Denmark, they received another setback when Zhang Rui was sent off in the first half against Haiti.
Despite playing over 60 minutes with 10 players, China managed to clinch three crucial points thanks to Wang Shuang’s 74th-minute penalty.
The 2022 Asian Cup winners head into the final matchday in third position, but they are level with Denmark on points, goal difference and number of goals scored.
China know that a victory will give them the best possible chance of reaching the knockout stages, and as a result, they will be looking to claim consecutive wins at a Women’s World Cup for the first time since 1999.
England are on the brink of maintaining their 100% record of reaching the World Cup knockout rounds after picking up maximum points from their first two games.
Georgia Stanway’s penalty gave the Lionesses a narrow 1-0 win over Haiti in Matchday One, before Sarina Wiegman’s side replicated that scoreline in Friday’s meeting with Denmark.
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Chelsea’s Lauren James produced a stunning long-range effort to give England the lead in a first half that appeared to be going according to plan until Kiera Walsh was stretchered off with a knee injury.
Denmark went close to finding an equaliser in the second half when Amalie Vangsgaard struck the woodwork, but England held firm to claim their seventh consecutive victory in the group stages of the Women’s World Cup.
England will qualify for the last 16 and wrap up first place if they collect a point on Tuesday, but a defeat and a Denmark win would bring a number of permutations into play.
China will be unable to call upon Zhang Rui, who will serve a one-match suspension after being sent off in the win over Haiti.
In the 34-year-old’s absence, Zhang Xin may be brought into the side to feature in a midfield three alongside Lingwei Yao and Lina Yang.
After coming off the bench to score from the penalty spot against Haiti, Shuang Wang could be rewarded with a starting place.
As for England, they would have been relieved with the positive news that Walsh did not suffer an anterior cruciate ligament injury.
Walsh, who is ruled out of the final group game, still remains a doubt for the remainder of the tournament, and she is expected to be replaced in the side by Laura Coombs for Monday’s contest.
After marking her first start at the Women’s World Cup with a goal, James is set to retain her place in the front three alongside Chloe Kelly and Alessia Russo.
China PR Women possible starting lineup:
Yu; Mengwen, Shanshan, Wei, Qiaozhu; Lingwei, Lina; Chengshu, Xi, Linyan; Jiahui
England Women possible starting lineup:
Earps; Bronze, Bright, Greenwood, Daly; Coombs, Stanway, Toone; Kelly, James, Russo