Image source, Getty Images. By. Emma Sanders. BBC Sport women’s football news reporter. 14 April 2026. Lauren James is one of England’s most talented footballers – but how can manager Sarina Wiegman get the best out of her?. The answer may have come in Tuesday night’s crucial 1-0 win over rivals Spain as the Chelsea forward impressed off the ball and was a terror on it.. Starting on the left wing in the 2027 World Cup qualifier at Wembley, James came close to scoring in the second half and worked tirelessly to maintain England’s clean sheet as reigning world champions Spain built pressure later on.. So has it provided the blueprint for the 24-year-old and Lionesses going forward?. England beat world champions Spain in World Cup qualifier. Walsh hits century – but who has most England Women caps?. 12 hours ago. England beat world champions Spain on Walsh’s milestone night. ‘She brings something different’. [embedded content]. In football terms, James is a maverick. She is a match-winner and a creative spark with an abnormally high level of ability.. She has been in electric form for Chelsea in recent weeks, including scoring an audacious lob in their Women’s Champions League quarter-final defeat by Arsenal.. In one of her most iconic performances, James scored twice and assisted three times in a 6-1 win over China in the group stage of the 2023 Women’s World Cup.. However, her England career has been a mixed bag, largely due to disruptive injuries, as well as her high-profile sending off during England’s win over Nigeria in the last 16 of the Women’s World Cup.. She came off the bench in the final against Spain, which the Lionesses lost 1-0.. But there is a reason why James has been touted as a future Ballon d’Or Feminin winner – and when England get the best out of her, they usually win games.. “LJ set the tone. We all just followed,” said England midfielder Georgia Stanway following a vital group-stage victory over the Netherlands at Euro 2025.. “She’s class and she brings something different to what we’ve got. You give LJ the ball and you know she is going to run through everybody and get her shot off.. “If LJ is confident, then that is what we want, because we want her to enjoy herself, to play with freedom.. “Everybody else has got to do their job in order for LJ to do hers.”. The biggest question is not whether James has what it takes – it is where her strongest position is for England.. She has played on the left and right wing, as well as in the number 10 position for the Lionesses, all with varying levels of success.. For Chelsea, she has even played as a number nine, but what position does Wiegman think is her best for England?. Speaking before their win over Spain, Wiegman admitted: “That’s a good question. She’s comfortable in several positions but I think she prefers being on the left side and the right side.. “She can play on both sides as she uses both of her feet. What we try to do is to get the best team on the pitch and put pla
