The Chelsea forward tore China to pieces, scoring two goals and laying on three assists for her team-mates. Had it not been for VAR, which was more of a thorn in England’s side than China, James would have had a hat-trick.

The 21-year-old deserved one as she was simply unplayable here as the Lionesses well and truly clicked into gear at this World Cup.

This 6-1 victory over China secured them top spot in Group D and setup a last-16 showdown against Nigeria in Brisbane on Monday. On the evidence of this, England will take some stopping as they excelled with a formation that caught everyone off guard.

The belief before this World Cup was that Sarina Wiegman is reluctant to make changes. But faced with the major headache of having no Keira Walsh for this final group game, the Lionesses boss sprung a huge tactical surprise.

Wiegman made three changes to her starting XI, the most she has ever made for a game at a major tournament during her managerial career, and England lined up in a back-three.

The last time they did that was November 2021, when England won 20-0. This victory over China wasn’t quite as emphatic, but the Lionesses still ran out comfortable winners and sent out a message to their tournament rivals.

After winning their first two matches 1-0, the Lionesses looked like themselves again here in Adelaide.

The new 3-4-1-2 formation got them flowing in attack as all of Wiegman’s tactical tweaks paid off. The Dutch women’s golden touch has not evaded her since Euro 2022.

The back-three looked solid, with Jess Carter justifying her place. Captain Millie Bright also looked the sharpest she has all tournament and was involved in the first two goals, winning the ball and setting England on their way to scoring.

In midfield, Katie Zelem, starting her first ever game for England, was neat and tidy. She wasn’t Walsh, no one is, but she was a solid understudy who should get more minutes going forward.

Zelem kept it simple and let those ahead of her thrive, in particular James. The 21-year-old was the match winner for England’s win over Denmark last Friday and she was the star of the show here too.

James was the Lionesses’ spark and around her everyone shone. Rachel Daly had boundless energy as a left wing-back, causing China all manner of problems. In attack, Alessia Russo and Lauren Hemp clicked as a front-two, with both putting sub-par starts to the tournament behind them.

Indeed, it was Russo and Hemp who put England two goals to the good within the first half an hour.

Russo’s goal came in under four minutes, when everyone inside the Hindmarsh Stadium was still working out what formation England were playing. Hemp got in down the left and her cross found James, who set it to Russo to score.

Just over 20 minutes later, it was Hemp’s turn. Bright won the ball, shrugged off another player and fed James. The Chelsea forward then found Hemp with a through-ball which split the defence. Hemp has looked short of confidence recently, but she raced through and slotted the ball home with so much composure.

By now, England were flying and James made it three just before the break. A free-kick was rolled to her on the edge of the box and she curled it first time into the bottom corner. Leah Williamson was right, James is a “cheat code”.

She should have had a second before half-time when she curled one into the top corner, this time with her left foot. VAR, however, baffling judged Lucy Bronze was offside in the build-up.

Shortly after half-time, Bronze was on the wrong side of another VAR call. This time she was said to have handled a goal-bound shot. A penalty was given and Wang Shuang made no mistake.

For a brief moment after that, it looked like China may rally. They had the vast majority of support here inside this 14,000-seater stadium and the goal got their tails up.

James, however, swiftly ended that comeback. First she volleyed one home with her left foot from a Bronze cross, and then she setup Chloe Kelly for a fifth.

England added a sixth late on through Daly and, for once, James wasn’t involved. By that point she was, literally, wrapped in blanket on the bench.

And no wonder, the 21-year-old is England’s new star.

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Holders the United States survived a huge scare to reach the last 16 of the Women’s World Cup on Tuesday after a 0-0 draw against Portugal, who were unlucky not to claim a sensational win at Eden Park that would have taken them through instead.

The USA struggled to impose themselves against opponents ranked 21st in the world and appearing at their first World Cup, and Portugal almost won the game in injury time when substitute Ana Capeta hit the post.

Holding on for the draw means Vlatko Andonovski’s side finish in second place in Group E.

The Netherlands go through as group winners after a 7-0 demolition of a Vietnam side who were beaten just 3-0 by the Americans in their first match at the tournament.

That means pre-tournament favourites the USA will move to Australia to play a last-16 tie on Sunday against the winners of Group G, in all likelihood Olympic silver medallists Sweden.

Nothing about their performance here in front of almost 41,000 in Auckland, or in their two previous matches at the tournament, suggests the United States will find it easy going against a side who finished third at the last World Cup.

It is just the second time in Women’s World Cup history that the USA have failed to top their group, although on the last occasion, in 2011, they reached the final before losing on penalties to Japan.

They had never before won just one group game, and the regression from four years ago in France is striking.

That time they won all three matches in the first phase, rattling in 18 goals without reply.

Andonovski has insisted a youthful new team will need time to find its feet, but an urgent step-up will be required if they are not to be eliminated early in the knockout phase.

The US have never before failed to reach the semi-finals in the eight prior editions of the World Cup.

– Lavelle handed start –

Andonovski made two changes from the 1-1 draw with the Netherlands, with Rose Lavelle rewarded for her game-changing role off the bench in that game with a first start at the tournament.

Savannah DeMelo made way for her, while Lynn Williams was brought in on the right wing as Trinity Rodman dropped out.

Portugal had to win to go through but played as if there was no pressure on them at all, with Andreia Norton shooting over early on and the lively Jessica Silva dragging a shot wide from a good position soon after.

They had more of the possession, and the much-fancied Americans struggled to match the intensity or aggression of a Portugal team who had beaten Vietnam 2-0 in their last match.

Starting a World Cup match for the first time, Williams found the going tough but did have her team’s best chances in the opening half, including a snap-shot in stoppage time that was saved by goalkeeper Ines Pereira.

The US started better in the second half but Andonovski was alarmed enough to call for Megan Rapinoe, the veteran replacing Sophia Smith just after the hour mark.

Yet clear chances remained at a minimum and there were some nervy moments at the other end, like when Naomi Girma was booked for a panicked pull on Silva late on.

There was more panic in the US defence in the first minute of injury time when Capeta, who had just come on, smashed a shot off the upright as the holders grimly held on.