Women’s World Cup LIVE. Latest news as England await Lauren James decision ahead of Colombia quarter-final

Nigeria striker Ifeoma Onumonu has criticized the lack of support from the country’s football federation after the Super Falcons were knocked out of the Women’s World Cup by England on penalties, revealing that players sometimes have to share beds in their training ground at home due to insufficient resources.

Nigeria crashed out of the World Cup after a crushing penalty shoot-out loss to the Lions, but were the better side in the big games against the European champions, who were held to a goalless draw after Lauren James’ red card in normal time.

Nigeria’s World Cup campaign was marred by a salary dispute after the team’s American manager, Randy Waldrum, revealed before the tournament that some players had not been paid by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) for two years.

Onumonu went further after the loss to the Lions and said that while Nigeria can take pride in competing against one of the best teams in the world, the Super Falcons are held back by lack of resources compared to their European counterparts.

When Sarina Wiegmann gathered with her crew at Lang Park, the mood was actually one of relief rather than tumultuous celebration; puffy cheeks instead of pumped fists.

The England manager admitted he felt “10 years older” after Nigeria put his side to the test for more than two hours. This unprecedented World Cup may be missing the biggest names, but no one will be able to say the road has been easy if the European champions reach the final here. On the contrary, and for greater reasons than that Nigeria has been clearly underestimated.

Wiegman actually said it was as “intense” a game as he’s ever encountered. Another reason for this, however, is precisely why this tournament has been so difficult in general.

Every time a manager solves one problem, a bigger problem seems to emerge. There’s always something bigger to fix.

Now, after impressively reshaping the team in the absence of Kiera Walsh, he will have to do it again for Lorraine James’ red card suspension.

Eugenie Le Sommer scored a brace to lead France to a 4-0 win over debutants Morocco in the last 16 of the Women’s World Cup to reach their third consecutive quarter-final.

Kadidiatu Diani’s fourth goal of the tournament, a 15th-minute header, sparked an eight-minute three-goal blitz by Les Bleues, while Kenza Daly and Le Sommer also scored at the Hindmarsh Stadium to end the North African side’s fairytale run.

France host Australia in the quarter-finals in Brisbane on Saturday.

Morocco became the lowest-ranked team (72) to play in the last 16, bouncing back from a 6-0 defeat by Germany to beat South Korea and Colombia. But they were no match for fifth-ranked France, who remained unbeaten in the group stage with a dramatic 6-3 win over Panama.

Le Sommer took his all-time top scorer record for France to 92, while the game marked the first time Les Bleus had scored four goals in a World Cup knockout game.

It only took a moment for Jamaica’s plan to be revealed. After keeping three clean sheets during their historic progress from the group stages, all it took was a goal to put their World Cup dream finally out of reach. When Deneisha Blackwood was caught under a high ball, Colombia found the quality they had been looking for for so long. Catalina Ousme put it in perfectly on the left foot and a step later headed it into the far corner.

For the first time in four games at this World Cup, Jamaica and goalkeeper Rebecca Spencer conceded, and if this last-16 tie needed a goal, so did Colombia’s entire approach. After taking the lead, they finally began to look like the team that shocked Germany at the top of Group H, and who will now look to do the same against England in the quarter-finals. Playing Jamaica didn’t suit them. Against lions can.

When Sarina Wigman saw Lauren James after her red card against Nigeria, the first thing the manager said to her was “it’s happening”. There was absolutely no criticism, the stance made easier by the player’s immediate apology and the fact that England got through.

That made the team’s World Cup a bit more complicated, though, especially because of the odd rule that James might not even know his full punishment until the quarterfinals. It’s definitely a one-match ban until FIFA’s disciplinary committee reviews the moment, which won’t happen until Saturday.

One thing that is probably certain is that, despite all the obvious comparisons, this was never going to be David Beckham 1998 or Wayne Rooney 2006. It wasn’t just because England won on penalties. We are a long way from “10 heroic lions, one stupid boy”, especially when it comes to women’s football.

One of the most common responses after the game, aside from the question of what James was actually doing, was that he had to be protected from Rooney and Beckham’s clashing pitchforks.

That is a good thing. It’s just football and he’s only 21, experiencing a game of this intensity for the first time.

The three-match ban will see James sidelined for the rest of the tournament if England reach their first ever Women’s World Cup final.

A decision can only be made after England’s quarter-finals, but after James has served his automatic one-match ban.

Nigeria’s Deborah Abiodun was handed a three-match ban after being sent off for a dangerous tackle on Canada’s Ashley Lawrence in the group stage, but her ban was lifted only after she served the first game.

Lauren James was England’s player of the World Cup but left frustrated after being sent off by Nigeria and furious, with coach Sarina Wigman admitting she “lost her emotions”.

England head coach Wigman chose not to criticize James and said: “He’s an inexperienced player on this stage and he did really well and I think for a second he just lost his emotions.

“And of course he doesn’t want to hurt anyone. He’s the sweetest person I know, and things just happen and you can’t change it anymore, so it’s a big lesson for him to learn, but of course it’s not something he really did on purpose.” :

Lauren James is automatically suspended for England’s next game against Colombia after receiving a red card, but his punishment will be reviewed by FIFA’s disciplinary committee.

If an attacker is deemed to have committed a serious act of foul play, the board has the power to impose further sanctions.

In a statement, the FA said they would support James throughout the disciplinary process and make representations on his behalf.

“Lauren is truly sorry for his actions which led to the red card and is full of remorse,” the statement read. “It’s totally out of character for him.”

Lauren James has vowed to “learn” from her Women’s World Cup sending off as the England star apologized to Nigeria’s Michelle Alozie for kicking her in the back in the last 16 match.

James was shown a straight red card after he left the studs on Alozie’s back while the defender was on the ground and the 21-year-old was frustrated as Nigeria sent him off.

The forward will be banned for at least the quarter-finals as England face Colombia on Saturday after beating Nigeria on penalties, but FIFA’s disciplinary committee could decide the action merits further punishment.

Alozi tweeted “all respect to Lauren James” earlier on Tuesday as he appeared to forgive the England player for the incident, adding “we play on the world stage, this game is a game of passion, overwhelming emotions and moments”.

James responded to Alozie’s post and said: “All my love and respect to you. I am sorry for what happened. Also to our England fans and my teammates, it is my greatest honor to play with you and for you and I promise to learn from my experience.”

England are through to the quarter-finals of the Women’s World Cup but they will be without Lauren James when they take on Colombia in the last eight.

James was sent off for kicking Nigeria’s Michel Alozie in the back of the Lions’ round of 16 match.

The 21-year-old, who was England’s player of the season, was initially shown a yellow card by the referee, but VAR advised a review and the yellow card was converted to red after the foul.

James is automatically suspended for England’s next match after receiving the red card, but his punishment will be reviewed by FIFA’s disciplinary committee.

If an attacker is deemed to have committed a serious act of foul play, the board has the power to impose further sanctions.