England stormed into the last sixteen of the FIFA Women's World Cup Finals at Coopers Stadium on August 1, the reigning European champions crushing current Asian champions China 6-1 in front of 13,497 fans to finish top of their group in style. Sarina Wiegman's team, employing a new formation which completely unhinged China's plans from the outset, hit the ground running from the first whistle, and were rewarded for doing so in the fourth minute. Alessia Russo combined with Lauren Hemp on the left, the latter's cross from the by-line being partially cleared to Lauren James, whose clever pass invited Russo, racing in off the left flank into the inside left channel, to drill a low drive inside Zhu Yu's near post. England went close to doubling their early lead just six minutes later. Rachel Daly and Russo combined on the left, the latter evading Li Mengwen's challenge before sending a cross careering through the corridor of uncertainty, one with which Lucy Bronze wasn't far away from connecting. Three minutes more elapsed before another England threat materialised. James and Katie Zelem combined to send Russo hurtling through the inside left channel, from where she played the ball across to Hemp. Only Chen Qiaozhu's timely challenge prevented her from firing a shot on target. Just as the "Steel Roses" started to get a toe-hold in the game after England's strong start, they succumbed to a second goal in the 26th minute. Milly Bright intercepted a pass and fed James, who sent Hemp racing through the inside right channel, from where she picked her spot beyond Zhu - 2-0. There was no way back for China from this, and England piled on the pressure in search of more goals. Twelve minutes before half-time, Daly's delicious cross to the far post found Bronze racing in, her header crashing against the far post. The wing-back's momentum took her into the path of the rebound, which she fired narrowly past the opposite upright. Three minutes later, Daly delivered more quality, a measured cross to the far post which found Georgia Stanway stealing in behind the Chinese rearguard. Her looping header was tipped over the bar by Zhu, who was beaten all ends up in the 41st minute as England scored their third goal in style. It was a training ground routine made good as Alex Greenwood, with players aplenty gathered in the goalmouth, instead played her free-kick to James, lurking outside the area. Her cultured left foot did the rest, curling the ball brilliantly into the far corner of the net from twenty yards. China mounted a rare attack in response, and were nearly rewarded for doing so, Li's cross flying across the six-yard box and just beyond the diving figure of Wu Chengshu, who was going all out to score with a diving header. Back came England, Russo turning up on the right flank this time, from where she sent a cross careering through the goalmouth. China got lucky, 'cause while England players were queuing up to do justice to the delivery, none was able to convert it - 3-0 it remained.

And 3-0 it remained on the stroke of half-time, despite James scoring with a quite exquisite curled finish from the edge of the area. Bronze was offside in the build-up, an infringement spotted by the Video Assistant Referee, which ruled that the Eleventh Commandment had been breached - thou shalt not celebrate prematurely! The start of the second spell saw "Steel Roses" pressure from the off, with Wu swooping on a stray pass to unleash a swerving twenty-five drive which Mary Earps was forced to turn round the post. From the resulting corner, Yang Lina's header struck the arm of Bronze, who was defending by the upright with Earps right behind her. China instantly appealed for a penalty, and after a lengthy VAR process, Australian referee Casey Reibelt agreed, and duly booked the offending Englander - not a day at the office Bronze will fondly remember. Wang Shuang had the pleasure of sending Earps the wrong way from the spot - 3-1 after 57 minutes, a goal which gave China hope. They looked to build on it soon after, Yang's twenty-five yard strike landing on the roof of the net after Zhang Linyan's cross had been partially cleared. England restored their three-goal advantage in the 65th minute with a quite superbly executed goal. Jessica Carter played a one-two with Bronze on the right before spotting the run of James through the inside left channel and delivering the ball into her stride. The female equivalent of John Barnes in his prime promptly steered a first-time volley into the top far corner of the net - gorgeous goal! England piled on the pressure now, and after Yao Wei's timely intervention had denied Chloe Kelly after fellow substitute Beth England had unselfishly set her up, the "Three Lions" made it 5-1 thirteen minutes from time. Once again, James was central to the move, a scrumptious ball forward from inside her own half laden with backspin aplenty which Kelly pursued with gusto through the inside right channel. Zu dashed out of goal to gather it, but was completely deceived by the bounce, Kelly scooting through inside her to roll the ball home into an empty net. Seven minutes later, China were hit for six, Daly volleying home on the far post after substitutes Ella Toone, Kelly and Laura Coombs had worked the ball across the penalty area to send England's fans into ecstasy - 6-1! Before the final whistle, Earps plunged to her left to keep out Chen's twelve yard attempt, while Coombs sent a shot flying past Zu's right-hand post. But England's passage to the last sixteen was confirmed, having finally produced a performance which dovetails their reputation heading into this tournament at the expense of the former runners-up, who are making their earliest-ever exit from the competition as a result of finishing third in this group. China:          Zhu; Li (H. Wu, 75), Shanshan Wang, Chen, W. Yao; L. Yao (Dou, 90), Yang, C. Wu, Zhang; Shuang Wang (Gu, 75), Lou (L. Wang, 90) England:     Earps; Carter, Bright, Greenwood; Bronze (booked, 56 (Charles, 71)), Stanway (Coombs, 46), Zelem, Daly; James (Toone, 81), Russo (England, 71), Hemp (Kelly, 71) Referee:     Casey Reibelt (Australia)