England star Lauren James pictured looked glum at airport after Nigeria Women's World Cup red card
England star Lauren James was sent off in Nigeria Women's World Cup
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England star Lauren James has been snapped looking glum at Sydney Airport in the wake of her dismissal against Nigeria on Monday.
The Chelsea star was sent off in the 87th minute for a stamp on Michelle Allozie.
The incident instantly drew comparisons with past red cards for England players such as David Beckham and Wayne Rooney.
Fortunately for James, however, her team-mates got the job done in her absence with the Lionesses winning a dramatic penalty shootout.
Lauren James was defended by England boss Sarina Wiegman after Nigeria Women's World Cup incident
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Now, the Daily Mail have shared images of James looking glum at Sydney airport in the wake of the incident.
The forward is now facing an anxious wait to discover whether her World Cup is over, with a potential three-game ban incoming.
James was initially given a yellow card following her collision with Alozie.
Once the referee consulted VAR, however, the Chelsea star was then given her marching orders towards the end of normal time.
Nigeria's Deborah Abiodun is the only other player to have been shown a red card for violent conduct at the tournament so far, with her own red card coming in a 0-0 draw with Canada last month.
Abiodun later had her ban extended and she was missing as England beat her side on penalties on Monday.
In the absence of James, who had scored three goals and clocked up three assists from as many games previously, Chloe Kelly was England's hero.
The Manchester City star scored the winning penalty, with her thunderous strike sailing into the top corner.
Bethany England, Alex Greenwood and Rachel Daly also converted their efforts from 12 yards.
England players and staff members rallied behind James in the aftermath of the contest, however, shielding the 21-year-old from criticism.
Manager Sarina Wiegman said: "It was a moment of a split-second and it was later in the game so players also get a little tired.
"She is an inexperienced player on this stage and has done really well.
"And I think, in a split-second, she just lost her emotions.
"And, of course, she does not want to hurt anyone. She is the sweetest person I know.
"Yet then things happen like that and you cannot change it any more.
"So it is a huge lesson for her to learn, but it is not something that she really did on purpose.
"It happens sometimes with human beings - that you are in such an intense game, such an emotional game and, in a split-second, she lost her emotions.
"She apologised and she felt really, really bad and absolutely she does not want to hurt anyone."
Wiegman was also proud of the way England reacted.
"I am really proud of the team. We have had many setbacks. I think this was a big one too," he said.
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Chloe Kelly was England's hero in Nigeria Women's World Cup win
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"So, as soon as it looked like Lauren James was sent off, we straight away had to re-organise and do something else on the pitch.
"Then the conviction to keep [the score] to 0-0 and to try to get out of their press, that was just incredible. The players got really, really tired, but we really stuck together and showed a lot of resilience.
"When you are so tired and then go into a penalty shootout and do so well, I think that is really incredible how the team did."
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