England vs Italy LIVE: Lionesses result and reaction as Lauren Hemp scores twice in five-goal win
England 5-1 Italy: Goals from Hemp, Lotte Wubben-Moy, Ella Toone and Rachel Daly completed an impressive win from the Lionesses
Lauren Hemp scored twice as England thrashed Italy in a friendly to conclude their February training camp in the south of Spain.
Hemp’s first-half double put England in total control after the Lionesses took the lead in the opening minute through Lotte Wubben-Moy.
The defender’s first international goal, a header from Alex Greenwood’s corner, gave England the perfect start before a fortuitous second from Hemp.
Hemp added her second with a thumping header from Georgia Stanway’s cross, before substitutes Ella Toone and Rachel Daly added to the score late on.
Toone converted Lauren James’ cross with a volley before Daly punished an Italy mistake to make it five.
Italy had pulled one back before half-time, when Michela Cambiaghi slotted past Mary Earps, but England were comfortable winners.
It rounded off a successful camp for the Lionesses after beating Austria 7-2 on Friday night. Follow live updates from England’s friendly against Italy in tonight’s match blog, and get the latest tips and odds on the fixture, here.
FULL TIME! England 5-1 Italy
Lauren Hemp scored a first-half brace as England beat Italy 5-1 in the second of their double-header of friendlies in southern Spain.
Four days on from defeating Austria 7-2 at the Estadio Nuevo Mirador in Algeciras, the Lionesses started the ball rolling for another thumping win with Lotte Wubben-Moy heading home her first international goal in the opening few seconds.
Hemp then added two efforts, the second an excellent header, to put England three goals up just past the half-hour mark.
Michela Cambiaghi pulled a goal back for the visitors in first-half stoppage time before substitutes Ella Toone and Rachel Daly completed the rout after the break.
After this positive start to the calendar year, next up for England are the opening Euro 2025 qualifiers in April as Sarina Wiegman’s side begin the journey of defending the title they won on home soil in 2022.
Lauren Hemp’s brace helps England to another thumping friendly win
England 5-1 Italy: The Lionesses made it 12 goals in two games as they concluded their friendly double-header in Spain
FULL TIME! England 5-1 Italy
Sarina Wiegman: “The whole camp pleased me. We played everyone to see what the level is, to see players in different positions and see the connections. To get two big wins is really nice.
On Lotte Wubben-Moy: “She’s taken a step forward, she’s developing a lot - we see that every week with Arsenal.”
On set-pieces: “It’s good to see it has had some effect and we will hope to keep doing that.”
On England’s camp: “Football can change but we have answers on questions we’ve had. There are many positives about this week.”
FULL TIME! England 5-1 Italy
Lauren Hemp, speaking to ITV:
“Very good performance, very dominant in possession. I thought we were great and scored twice from set-pieces, which is what we were working on this week. Set-pieces is something we can do better on. We’ve been working hard - I’m happy to contribute even if I didn’t know too much about the first one. The set-piece coach will be buzzing about that.
“The squad is in a great place. We’ll take these two games into the start of qualifying.”
FULL TIME! England 5-1 Italy
Eni Aluko on ITV:
“Really pleasing performance from England tonight. 12 goals in two games, with nine different goalscorers. You don’t want too much pressure on one player but England are sharing the goals around.”
Karen Carney on ITV:
“Controlled, dominant performance from England. The only negative was conceding the goal before half-time.”
FULL TIME! England 5-1 Italy
That’s that! A five-goal performance from England!
England 5-1 Italy
88 mins: Close! Hemp is inches away from her hat-trick! It’s superb from James, who creates a yard before firing a low drive across goal. Guiliani saves well with her feet and it almost breaks to Hemp to head in - but it just came back up too quickly.
England 5-1 Italy
83 mins: An England debut for Millie Turner! The Manchester United centre-back replaces Alex Greenwood for her first cap. She’ll see out the final 10 minutes or so.
GOAL! England 5-1 Italy (DALY 79’)
Daly strikes against Italy again! She punishes the mistake from the Italy goalkeeper!
Guiliani is sold short by the back pass but Daly is so, so sharp. The striker rounds Guiliani and then beats another Italy defender for good measure before slotting into the empty net!
It’s five for the Lionesses.
England 4-1 Italy
71 mins: Italy have had their share of chances, as Cambiaghi gets another in the box but drags her effort wide.
England make their fifth change as Daly replaces Kelly, in a move that should see Hemp go back to the wing.
GOAL! England 4-1 Italy (TOONE 69’)
A lovely England goal and Toone makes her impact off the bench to lead by three once again!
James makes her impact as well with a drive to the byline and a clipped cross back into the box.
Toone, as she so often does, arrives just in time and guides an excellent volley into the top corner!
Super goal, which came from Greenwood’s switch of play.
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