England to give Lauren James time to prove fitness for Euro 2025 final - The Athletic

England is allowing forward Lauren James as much time as possible to recover from an ankle injury and prove her fitness for the European Championship final against Spain on Sunday. James was substituted at halftime during the semi-final against Italy and was seen with ice on her right ankle in the second half.

Manager Sarina Wiegman confirmed on Friday that James is "still recovering" and doing work on the pitch, but her availability for the final remains uncertain. Wiegman stated the team will use the next two days to assess her, aiming to have all 23 players available.

James, a key creative player for England, has scored twice in the tournament (both against the Netherlands in the group stage). Former Chelsea manager Emma Hayes previously called her the "most naturally gifted footballer in the country". James currently plays for Women's Super League champions Chelsea.

England reached the final by coming from behind to beat Italy 2-1 after extra time in the semi-final. They will now face reigning world champions Spain in Basel. This final marks the second consecutive major tournament where England has faced Spain, having lost to them in the 2023 World Cup final.