20 August 2023 , 06:00
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With four minutes to play in the World Cup semi-final and England 2-1 up, Lauren Hemp receives the ball midway through her own half.
It shouldn’t be a dangerous situation for Australia, who by this point are desperately chasing the game. Yet only seconds later the ball is in the Matildas net. Hemp sees a chink the defence and ran for the hills.
No one in green and gold can get close enough to even foul her. The Norfolk flyer has left the station and won’t be caught. She then shapes to shoot before producing an outrageous no-look pass to the onside Alessia Russo.
The forward is a little wide but makes no mistake with her finish, finding the corner of the net. Game, set and match. Goodnight Sydney. This semi-final was the England front two at their absolute best. Before this tournament began, the idea of Hemp and Russo as a two pronged attack for England wasn’t widely considered.
Russo wasn’t even a guaranteed starter, with Rachel Daly coming off the back of a 22-goal WSL golden boot-winning season with Aston Villa. Many thought she may have to reprise her super-sub role from the Euros.
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In the end Wiegman gave her the nod, while Hemp was picked wide on the left. Neither had a great first game and Hemp was withdrawn for Lauren James.
She was then left on the bench entirely for the game against Denmark. In the same game Russo wasted England’s best chance of the second half, firing wide.
Lauren Hemp of England (second from right) celebrates after scoring her sides second goal during the FIFA Women's World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023 Semi Final match against Australia (Photo by Richard Callis/MB Media/Getty Images)It wasn’t happening for the pair. But the performances from the rest of the side were far from brilliant, despite collecting maximum points.
Something had to change and the switch to two up front would prove Wiegman’s best call of the tournament. Within minutes against China in the third group game, Russo had broken something of an international duck that stretched back to the first game of the Arnold Clark Cup. By half time Hemp had also scored, England won 6-1.
Since then the duo have become the Lionesses ’ secret weapon. Against Nigeria, England were poor but the pace of the City forward managed to get them up the pitch when little else was working.
In the last eight clash with Colombia, they had to get England out of jail. The South Americans led just before half time and once again an early flight home looked a real possibility.
Hemp’s equaliser was helped by a goalkeeping rick but she was alive in the box when she needed to be. If the pair can maintain their current form on Sunday, they could end the day World Champions.
Ahead of the final, Spain have plenty of attacking quality of their own, with super sub Salma Paralluelo a big threat to England’s defence. They also have two of the best midfielders around in Alexia Putellas and Aitana Bonmati.
Lauren Hemp celebrates after her player of the match performance against Australia (The FA via Getty Images)But they don’t have the pace or power at the back to live with Hemp and Russo. England shouldn’t be fearful of this final.
Their new look strike force could be what tips the scales of a tight contest in their favour.
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