China’s quest for a place in the last 16 of the Women’s World Cup ended in ignominy in Adelaide on Tuesday as they suffered a 6-1 thrashing against a dominant England, with the Asian champions failing for the first time to qualify for the knockout rounds.
First-half goals from Alessia Russo, Lauren Hemp and Lauren James made a mockery of China’s prematch hopes for a win that would potentially take them into the last 16 as Shui Qingxia’s side were overwhelmed by English physicality and precision.
Wang Shuang’s 57th-minute penalty gave China the briefest glimmer of hope that was quickly doused by a second from the outstanding James, while Chloe Kelly and Rachel Daly completed the comprehensive rout.
The loss means China exit the competition, finishing in third place in Group D. It is the first time in eight appearances at the finals that the Steel Roses have fallen in the opening phase.
Wang, scorer of China’s winner against Haiti, replaced suspended playmaker Zhang Rui in Shui’s line-up, the first time the former Paris Saint-Germain forward has started at the tournament. But for all the expectation, she barely featured in the opening 45 minutes.
Instead the European champions were quickly making short work of China’s defence and, in the fourth minute, Hemp turned Li Mengwen to deliver a cross that was cleared to James, whose delicate through-ball found Russo with enough space to pick her spot in the bottom corner.
Sarina Wiegman’s side threatened to do further damage down the same flank moments later, Russo again outstripping Li, but this time her low centre was perhaps too well struck and flew untouched across the face of Zhu Yu’s goal.
Hemp doubled her side’s advantage in the 26th minute, Millie Bright storming out of defence to claim possession and supply James, who in turn slipped a pass through to Hemp and, after a deft first touch, the 22-year-old stroked past Zhu.
Four minutes before the interval the gulf between the sides turned into a chasm. Alex Greenwood found James unmarked with her free kick from the right and the Chelsea midfielder struck with confidence.
The Chinese barely ventured meaningfully into English territory with Georgia Stanway and Bright dictating the tempo in the centre. Li Mingwen provided a rare chance late in the half, but Wu Chengshu was unable to connect with the cross from the right.
Referee Casey Reibelt momentarily spared China further humiliation when she ruled out a second for James in first half added time after consulting the pitchside monitor, and early in the second half the Australian intervened again, this time to give Shui’s side a penalty.
Mary Earps, a bystander throughout the first 53 minutes, had reacted smartly to save Wu’s shot from distance but from the resulting corner Lucy Bronze’s handball – seen by Reibelt on the pitchside monitor – earned China a penalty that Wang converted.
The goal briefly boosted the Chinese, with the red-clad thousands in Hindmarsh Stadium raising the noise levels every time the Steel Roses went forward.
Yang Lina almost pulled another back, firing just over the bar from outside the area.
It was to be a fleeting rekindling of hope, however, James restoring England’s three-goal cushion with a measured volley from 10 yards out as the second half approached the midway point.
Kelly added the fifth with 13 minutes remaining when the advancing Zhu misread James’ ball forward to leave the substitute to roll the ball into the empty net and Daly smashed in the sixth with six minutes remaining as China were utterly outclassed.