England boss Sarina Wiegman admits Lauren James has a ‘huge lesson to learn’ after red card against Nigeria… as she says she has ‘aged 10 years’ following the tense World Cup win

  • James was sent off stamping on Nigeria’s Michelle Alozie after 87 minutes
  • England reached the quarter-finals of the World Cup after a penalty shootout win
  • Wiegman admitted that James ‘lost her emotions’ during the last-16 clash 

Sarina Wiegman said she had ‘aged 10 years’ after the most intense game of her career saw England beat Nigeria 4-2 on penalties to progress to the quarter-finals of the World Cup.

The Lionesses had been heavy favourites to prevail in Monday’s last 16 tie but had to overcome Lauren James’ 87th minute red card before a nervy period of extra-time.

James saw red for stepping on Nigeria’s Michelle Alozie in an act of petulance. Wiegman said the forward had apologised but that she did ‘not intend to hurt anyone’.

‘I’ve spoken to her. I actually said [to her], “look, that happens sometimes with human beings,” that they are in such an intense game and such a high-intensity, emotional game, and in a split second she lost her emotions.

‘Of course she apologised and she felt really, really bad. Absolutely she doesn’t want to hurt anyone.

Lauren James was sent off for stamping on Nigeria's Michelle Alozie after 87 minutes

Lauren James was sent off for stamping on Nigeria’s Michelle Alozie after 87 minutes

Sarina Wiegman has admitted that James has a 'huge lesson to learn' after the mistake

Sarina Wiegman has admitted that James has a ‘huge lesson to learn’ after the mistake

‘This was a moment, it was a split second, it was later in the game, so players also get a little tired, she’s an inexperienced player on this stage and she’s done really well.

‘I think in a split second she just lost her emotions. Of course she doesn’t want to hurt anyone, she’s the sweetest person I know. Things happen like that, you can’t change it any more, it’s a huge lesson to learn but of course it’s not something she’s done on purpose.’

Chloe Kelly scored the winning spot-kick to send England through and Wiegman admitted she had not experienced such an intense encounter during her managerial career.

‘I don’t know about my heart-rate, I just know I’m ten years older,’ Wiegman said. ‘It was a really intense game.

‘Nothing is easy in this tournament, that is very exciting about this tournament too, you see the women’s game has improved so much.

‘You saw it in the group stage, so many games were equal and it’s not the expected teams have won all the time, we were really preparing for this game as an equal game, and that’s what it showed. Well more than that, I haven’t been in very many games that were so intense as this one tonight.’

Lauren James will miss one-match but her ban is likely to be increased to three games

Lauren James will miss one-match but her ban is likely to be increased to three games

Despite dropping down to 10, England went on to take the victory after a penalty shootout

Despite dropping down to 10, England went on to take the victory after a penalty shootout

James will get an automatic one-match ban for her red card but it is likely that will be increased to three, with FIFA rules stating more games can be imposed upon review. The governing body said a decision will be made in due course.

Wiegman is already without a number of high profile players at this tournament including Leah Williamson, Beth Mead and Fran Kirby. Keira Walsh made her return from injury to start yesterday’s game but was forced off with cramp in extra-time.

Asked if she has ever experienced so many issues during her career, Wiegman said: ‘No, I have never experienced so many problems, but of course that’s my job to think of things that can happen in a game, or in a tournament, or ahead of a tournament, so you try to turn every stone and already think of the solution before it happens and today we got totally tested on those stones!’

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Post source: Daily mail

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