Lauren James was forced off injured for England shortly before half-time in the Women’s Euros final against Spain.
With the Lionesses 1-0 down after Mariona Caldentey’s headed goal, the Chelsea star kicked the ball out of play and sat on the turf.
James appeared to be in discomfort and England quickly realised that a change needed to be made in the Euros final.
Manager Sarina Wiegman made the bold decision to start the 23-year-old following an ankle injury from the semi-final win over Italy.
Wiegman admitted during her press conference before Sunday that she was unsure of James‘ availability against Spain.
And just before half-time, it became apparent that the gamble did not pay off as the forward was replaced by Chloe Kelly in the 40th minute.
Speaking on talkSPORT commentary in Basel, presenter Adrian Durham raged during the break: “Well, they say in Sarina we trust, but that is being tested to the full in this tournament.
“Sarina Wiegman has wasted 40 minutes of this final by pretending Lauren James is fit.
“Ridiculously bad decision to start Lauren James playing games with the media at training yesterday telling us James was fit.
“That’s why she’s on the grass from the off. Lauren James couldn’t run couldn’t move. She was towing a caravan through a sea of treacle. It was ridiculous.
“What it means is, that others are having to do Lauren James’s work for her. It means [Alessio] Russo is [getting] little or no support.
“It means England basically gave up because they are ten playing against 11.
James had to be substituted as a result of her gutting injuryAFP“It’s hard enough with 11 v 11 when it’s Spain. But we’ve basically let Spain completely run the game and outplay us because we were a player down.”
Durham added: “What on earth was she thinking putting Lauren James in the starting lineup when you’ve got Jess Park, you’ve got Beth Mead, you’ve got Chloe Kelly. What’s she thinking?”
Former Lionesses star Natasha Dowie, who was capped on 14 occasions, remarked: “I mean to be honest, I can’t believe it. How can you gamble on such a big occasion?
“And I’m not saying that no-one else would have done it… but I just think they’re 1-0 down.
“Should you have started Chloe Kelly? Now I am surprised because I think straight from the off it was very obvious that Lauren James was not fit.
“So why have you played her? Why have you played her when you know that she’s probably not going to be able to last 45 minutes?”
talkSPORT’s Durham was fuming with the decision by WiegmanAFPShe later stated: “To be honest, if I’m a player on the bench, I’m really disrespected.
“Because you have great players in this team and you’re telling me that a ten per cent Lauren James is better than me?
“And then you’re expecting me to come on and perform for you when you’ve shown me a lack of respect?
“I’m frustrated, I really am.”
James’ replacement Kelly then showed why she has been dubbed as a ‘super sub’ having starred off the bench in the knockout stages.
It was Kelly who supplied the assist for England’s equaliser in the 57th minute, with her Arsenal teammate Russo expertly heading home.
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