Eriksson does not hold back when she is to describe the English attacking star who has made two goals so far in the European Championship in football.
A fantastic player. I think she has the highest level of all players in this tournament. But she can also fall out of matches if you handle her in the right way, says the Swedish centre-back, previously a teammate with James in Chelsea.
Easy but difficult
So how do you do that? It's easy, says Magdalena Eriksson. Make sure Lauren James doesn't get the ball.
Like with all the most skilled players, it's about getting her out of the match. Now she has played a bit more on a wing, then it can be easier to stop her from getting the ball, if we manage to steer the game in other directions.
What happens if she gets the ball?
She can do a lot. She is skilled with both feet, skilled at driving the ball, skilled at setting up her teammates in good passing positions and passes. That's why you'd rather stop her from getting the ball at all. But if she gets it, it's about working as a team, we shouldn't isolate anyone in too many one-on-one situations.
"Unpleasant to meet"
One who has very good knowledge of James is the national team colleague Lucy Bronze. From her right-back position, she often has the 23-year-old straight in front of her. She is glad they play in the same team.
There aren't many left-backs, or right-backs, who want to see that James jersey in the opposing team. Because she is unpleasant to meet, says Bronze.
If you have Lauren James in the team, the opponents often have to change something during the match. She is that dangerous. And yet she is not even fully fit yet.
James got injured in April and made her comeback in the national team only at the end of June. In the European Championship, she has still started every match.
Sweden's left-back Jonna Andersson, one who will try to stop James, played in Chelsea until 2022 and just got to see the attacker break through.
I got to see a lot of talent even back then, says Andersson.
She also says that it requires cooperation to stop such a sharp opponent.
She is strong with her back to the goal, makes herself face the goal. And she drives with an incredible speed and can play crosses and shoot with both left and right. So a very difficult player to stop. It's about helping each other.
Sweden–England kicks off at 9 PM.
