2025-09-03 14:31:42

Lauren James has said supporters were “too quick to judge” her during England’s triumphant Euro 2025 campaign in Switzerland, after injury problems limited her impact on the pitch.

The 23-year-old forward played a central role for Sarina Wiegman’s Lionesses as they retained their European title, starting all six games.

But in the latter stages she was hampered by injury, substituted at half-time in the semi-final against Italy and forced off in the first half of the final against Spain.

James has since revealed she aggravated the problem during the quarter-final against Sweden, an injury which will rule her out of the start of Chelsea’s new Women’s Super League season.

Speaking to BBC Sport, James has now said she felt criticism of her performances was unfair given the physical pain she was playing through.

She added: “A lot of the time fans don’t know what is going on, they only know what is in front of them. “They don’t know what someone is dealing with, what is going on in their life. I always say to the fans, be mindful, you don’t know what someone is dealing with out there. You could just be adding on to it.

“No player goes into a game or into a season thinking I’m not going to try. It was a Euros, they don’t come around often. You could have one leg hanging off, I will still tell you that I’m going to try to play.”

James admitted she had tried to continue despite the pain.

She added: “I was obviously fighting to be fit for the Euros, then suffered another injury in the quarter-finals, and tried to play on.

“Then people assume you’re not trying, but at the end of the day I’m in a ridiculous amount of pain which caused me to come off at half-time in the semi-finals and before half-time in the final.”

Her form had attracted criticism from sections of the public and online fans.

James said: “England are playing with 10 men, she’s lazy, she’s not trying. I’m like, I’m injured! It does put you down.”

The forward had scored twice in the 4-0 group-stage win over the Netherlands but missed her penalty in the shootout victory over Sweden.

She confessed the moment carried added fear of racial abuse, citing the experience of England’s men at Euro 2020.

“For sure,” she said when asked if it was on her mind. “Stepping up, I was thinking, if I miss I hope I’m not the only one because I know what comes with it – it happened before and keeps happening.

“As sad as it sounds, it was the biggest relief ever that other players missed. Who would have thought that? You always want your team-mates to score so you get through. Luckily we missed and got through, but it was not a nice moment – you are playing for your country so you should feel the support from the fans. It shouldn’t matter what colour you are.”

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