England legends explain why taking risk on ‘extraordinary’ Lauren James could pay off at Euro 2025

5th June 2025 Oliver Taliku

Two former Lionesses have revealed why it could be worth taking a chance on Lauren James at this Summer’s Euros, despite her considerable lack of fitness.   

Lauren James named in Euro 2025 squad

There has been a lot of rumours circulating Lauren James’ availability this summer for the Lionesses as the Chelsea star continues to recover from a hamstring injury.

While James remains as one of the most dangerous players on the planet, having not played since April there does come a big concern surrounding the 23-year-old’s availability.

Today the rumours were finally put to bed though, as Sarina Wiegman’s Euro 2025 squad announcement confirmed that Lauren James will indeed be heading to the Euros in Switzerland.

James will make her Euros debut this year if she can remain fit enough to play, having risen through the ranks shortly after the Lionesses success at Euro 2022.

England have a great chance of retaining their title this year and should James make a return to the pitch at anywhere near the level she has been playing in the last two years, they could be even more serious contenders.

James scored three goals in just five appearances for the Lionesses at the 2023 World Cup (despite a red card casting a cloud over her tournament), but since then she has managed just one goal in six appearances for the National team with injuries continuing to slow her career.

England legends back Lauren James

Speaking this week ahead of the squad reveal, two former Lionesses discussed the risks and rewards that would come with selecting the Chelsea forward.

England’s all-time top scorer, Ellen White, said: “LJ can produce something extraordinary that can spin a game on it’s head. Do you take that risk and essentially only carry 22 players into the Euros?”

Former Lioness goalkeeper, Karen Bardsley, added: “Lauren James is special. For me, if she’s close enough to being fit, she makes it [the squad]. She adds another level to this England team, she’s like a cheat code.”

Having been included in the squad, there is clearly enough confidence behind James’ fitness heading into the summer to back the superstar to perform.

Wiegman herself backed James in an interview before the squad announcement, saying: “With LJ, she is of course on the pitch [training], she is still in the position that we expect her to be, so she’s progressing in the rehab and that’s going really well, so I’m positive about that.”

There is still a month to go until the Euros get underway this summer and with a warmup game against Jamaica scheduled at the end of June, there is plenty of time for James to get match fit.

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