Lioness star Lucy Bronze says Lauren James’ rise brings back memories of her being thrust into the limelight

LUCY BRONZE knows all about being thrust into the World Cup spotlight just like England starlet Lauren James. 

The Lioness intends to be on hand to offer advice to one of the contest’s fast-rising stars who reminds her “a little” of herself. 

Reuters

Lucy Bronze has formed a bond with England ace Lauren James with the forward emerging as a rising star of the World Cup[/caption]

Bronze says James’ rise reminds of her own at the World Cup with full-back among the 2015 contest’s standout playersGetty - Contributor

Bronze, 31, who with her team-mates will battle Nigeria for a quarter-final spot on Monday, has her own experience of being propelled “into the limelight”.

The Barcelona heroine, who has 108 senior caps, was one of the standout stars of the 2015 tournament in Canada. 

Back then her thunderous top corner strike helped England knock Norway out in the last 16. 

It was a shot from the edge of the penalty box that earned the then 23-year-old a World Cup Golden Ball nomination. 

Bronze also netted in the Lionesses’ quarter-final defeat of Canada, before helping the team win a bronze medal after they were knocked out by Japan in the semis. 

Reflecting on her experience and those of team-mate James, the right-back said: “We have formed a bond as we are in similar situations. 

“I was thrust into the limelight in a different way but I can help give her advice. 

“I can help keep her feet on the ground but she is good at that anyway. 

“She’s someone like myself who gets misinterpreted a little bit by other players or the media because she hasn’t always got a smile on her face. 

“She is quite shy like I used to be. She reminds me so much of myself when I was younger.

“When she came into her first camp she was already asking me a lot of questions about things that other players didn’t ask.

“LJ is shy but she believes in herself. She wants the team to do well more than anything.”

James, 21, has been flying the flag for the Lionesses’ emerging young talent. 

The versatile forward, who has 14 senior caps, became the first England player, male or female, to be directly involved in five or more goals in a World Cup match. 

However Bronze expects the Lionesses’ other new stars will influence their progress with Bethany England, 29, Katie Zelem, 27, and Laura Coombs, 32, all featuring in their group stage games.  

The trio were involved in the team’s 6-1 drubbing of China on Tuesday with Zelem making her first senior England start and first appearance in a World Cup tournament. 

And England, who was an unused substitute during the Lionesses Euros-winning charge last summer, has come off the bench twice in the contest.

Bronze adds: “You look at someone like Bethany, she probably thought she wouldn’t play much at this tournament. 

“But she has come on in two games and done really well. I know she hasn’t scored but she has still played a huge role. 

“People expected us to do the same as we did at the Euros (in terms of our line-up) 

Alamy

England’s clash with Nigeria at the World Cup on Monday could see Bronze go up against her Barcelona team-mate Asisat Oshoala[/caption]

“But I spoke to Sarina before the tournament and we were both saying this would be harder.

“It was never going to be the same, people wanted it to be, but it was never going to. 

“We’ve had to be adaptable and we have shown we can be.”