25 July 2023 , 11:45
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Lauren Hemp’s hobby involves building blocks - and now so does her job.
The Lionesses’ winger is a self-confessed Lego fiend with boxes of the world’s most famous plastic coloured bricks stacked up in her room.
Her instagram account is peppered with success stories and now there is an obvious parallel to be drawn with England’s on-field progress.
Asked if she had boxes piled up in her hotel room, she said: “You might be correct…I put a photo on my instagram yesterday of a motorbike, I’m now working on a globe.
“I have also done a stadium and I am also working on this little street. I’ve got a bit of a deal going with Lego - they’re really good in sending me items that I can do. I just follow the instructions really, so it’s not too difficult.
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“And, obviously, I love doing it - in fact, I’m going back to do it now once this has finished.
“I just find it very therapeutic. For me, after a long training session or hard day, I just go home and do that. I just enjoy it.
“The only problem is I managed to get this Lego from Australia, which is handy. I’m just trying to work out how I’m actually going to transport it home. I’m really not sure how I’m going to do that.”
Lauren Hemp's Lego Yoda (Instagram/lauren_hemp)
Lauren Hemp's Lego Nou Camp (Instagram/lauren_hemp)Hemp, 22, has played a major part in the rise of the Lionesses since her debut four years ago.
Sarina Wiegman arrived in Australia with a squad of known quantity but an unknown one in how it would best be assembled and gel on an operational level.
She said: “The World Cup is new for a lot of us - a lot of us have never been to one before.
“I mean, this is across the other side of the world and - I’m not making excuses here - but it’s important that we build on each game. We saw last summer that we are more than capable of doing that.
“Things came out of the Haiti game. It’s not like we had a bad performance. It’s finding those final little things that will make us click.
“We’ve been together for over a month now, so the connections are building and yes, I think you can feel it in the squad that we’re all getting really excited.”
The Lionesses opened up with a 1-0 win over Haiti (The FA via Getty Images)However, Hemp’s form for Manchester City had dipped of late and, with England now not having scored a goal from open play in the past four matches, questions are being asked.
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Chelsea’s Lauren James is waiting in the wings while Brighton’s Katie Robinson is a wildcard.
Hemp added: “I felt towards the end of the season that I was picking up form again. I’m working hard but obviously I’m one of the forward players and we’re trying desperately hard to find these connections.
“I think we are creating chances. It is just about being more ruthless - even more so now we’re at a World Cup.
“We have shown we are dominant against a lot of teams. We just need to be more clinical and ensure those little percentages that make such a difference are on the rise.”