The week leading up to theNations League win over Portugalwas dominated by the news ofMary Earps’s retirement from international football39 days before the European champions begin their title defence. The supremely talented Hannah Hampton had slowly moved into pole position for the starting spot in Switzerland, with Sarina Wiegman having said the Chelsea keeper was a little ahead of Earps, the Euro 2022 and 2023 World Cup No 1. Hampton has performed well when given the chance to start, but how she will cope with the pressure of being first choice long-term? Portugal were perfect opponents to ease her way in, England’s utter domination in the 6-0 win leaving her very little to do. Spain will offer a far greater test on Tuesday but Hampton, whose distribution is superior, was preferred to Earpsagainst the world champions in February.
The sight of Lauren Hemp in the starting XI against Portugal was welcome. As was that of Alex Greenwood and Georgia Stanway, who were on the bench, coming on. All three have been in a race against time to be fit for the Euros and they showed what England has been missing this year. Hemp was electric on the left and her teammate Grace Clinton said: “Out of possession, in possession, she’s an unbelievable player. She’s got one-v-one, she’s got dribbling, she’s got pace with her runs in behind, she’s got everything.” Wiegman said: “It’s really nice to see them back. They have worked so hard to get to where they are … if you haven’t put all the work into getting to this point then you cannot put in the performance they showed tonight.
Wiegman is a winner and she wanted a big victory against Portugal, a team England have struggled against havingdrawn 1-1 in the reverse fixturein February and held toa 0-0 draw in a friendlyon the eve of the 2023 World Cup. Aggie Beever-Jones said: “As cliched as it sounds, Sarina said: ‘It’s a new kit, new England today. Go out there and put a graft in.’ I think her words were ‘destroy them’, in her Dutch accent.” That edge and hunger to win aren’t always positive, Wiegman’s reaction to Earps’s retirement reportedly having been a very angry one, but when it comes to putting together winning formulas on the pitch there are few better managers.
England have had limited attacking options since Euro 2022, withBeth Mead injuring an anterior cruciate ligamentand Lauren James more recently having hamstring problems, while Chloe Kellywas frozen out at Manchester Cityin the first half of this season. However, things seem to be coming together at the right time: Mead is looking closer to her best, she and Kelly – after a loan move – areChampions League winnerswith Arsenal and Hemp is well and truly back. Throw in the youngsters Beever-Jones, who scored a hat-trick against Portugal, andMichelle Agyemang, who scored 41 seconds into her debutagainst Belgium last month, and the forward choices look strong. “We have so many options,” said Wiegman. “What we also hope for is LJ [Lauren James] coming back too. She’s still in rehab and doing good.”
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Wiegman said the five Arsenal Champions League winners had brought energy to the England camp. “They were so happy. It was absolutely brilliant they won it. I just get goosebumps thinking about it. It’s incredible and they came in that way too. They got a little bit longer break to celebrate and it was very enjoyable with them.” Kelly, Mead, Leah Williamson, Lotte Wubben-Moy and Alessia Russo weren’t the only ones with shiny new medals: add in Chelsea’s unbeaten treble-winners and Jess Carter, who won the Concacaf Champions Cup with Gotham FC last Sunday, and England are stacked with domestic and continental victors.