Electric England crush China 6-1 to book last-16 clash with Nigeria

Adelaide, Aug. 2: Chelsea star Lauren James scored twice as European champions England swept past shellshocked China 6-1 and into the Women's World Cup last 16 on Tuesday to set up a clash with Nigeria.

It equalled England's biggest-ever World Cup victory and booked them top spot in Group D, while consigning the Asian champions to their earliest ever exit.

Denmark beat Haiti 2-0 in the other group game to finish second and line up a knockout-round meeting with co-hosts Australia.

England made an explosive start at Adelaide's Hindmarsh Stadium with an instinctive finish from Manchester United striker Alessia Russo in just the fourth minute.

Manchester City's Lauren Hemp and James added further goals before the break.

Wang Shuang converted a second-half penalty for China, but James got her second with a sublime volley, substitute Chloe Kelly was gifted a fifth after a goalkeeper howler and Rachel Daly got in on the act as the clock ticked down.

England and Japan are the only teams to win all three group games so far, reaffirming their status as among the favourites to win the World Cup.

While they celebrated, China's tournament ended at the group stage for the first time ever.

The Steel Roses, an early powerhouse in women's football, made at least the round of 16 in the six previous World Cups they have played, finishing runners-up in 1999 during their heyday.

The Danes, playing at their first World Cup since 2007, thought they had scored early against Haiti in front of just under 18,000 in Perth but it was ruled out after a VAR review found Simone Boye was just off-side.

Denmark made their early pressure count when Haiti conceded a penalty -- their third at this World Cup -- for handball. Skipper Pernille Harder scored from the spot.

Denmark sealed the deal deep in stoppage time through Sanne Troelsgaard.

US stumble into last 16

Holders the United States squeezed into the last 16 of the Women's World Cup with a shaky 0-0 draw against debutants Portugal to finish second in Group E behind a rampant Netherlands.

The United States came to Australia and New Zealand as favourites to win an unprecedented third World Cup in a row.

But they have been nothing like the team that has dominated international women's football for so long and will need to be a lot better if they are to go much farther at the tournament.

Portugal came within inches of the win they needed to progress -- and dump out the Americans -- when substitute Ana Capeta hit the post in injury time in front of almost 41,000 in Auckland.

But the US held on and are likely to face a Sweden team in the last 16 who thrashed Italy 5-0 last time out.

The Netherlands, who drew 1-1 with the US team last week in a rerun of the 2019 final, racked up the biggest win of this World Cup with a 7-0 demolition of already eliminated Vietnam.

Esmee Brugts and Jill Roord both scored twice for the Dutch, who topped the group with seven points and a goal difference of plus eight.

The US were second on five points while Portugal were edged out on four. Vietnam failed to get a point.

Marta's tears

On Wednesday, Brazil will need to beat Jamaica to guarantee their place in the knockout rounds. Jamaica only need a point.

Football legend Marta was moved to tears as the Brazilian reflected on her career and legacy on the eve of what could be her final World Cup appearance.

The 37-year-old Marta -- nicknamed "Pele in a skirt" by the late football great -- has already said this will be her last World Cup.

She is the all-time leading goal-scorer in World Cups, men's or women's, and if she adds to her tally of 17 she will be the first footballer in history to score at six World Cups.

"You know what's good? When I started there were no idols in women's football," she told reporters on the eve of the match, tears filling her eyes.

"How could there be if you didn't show women's football? How could I understand that I would reach the national team and become a reference point?

"Now I go out on the street and people stop me, parents say to me, 'My daughter adores you, she wants to be just like you'."

Also on Wednesday in the same Group F, France face Panama with a point enough to go through.

In Group G, already qualified Sweden play Argentina and South Africa face Italy.

The Italians will qualify -- and have a date with the Dutch -- with victory, while a draw could also be enough. (AFP)