England v Netherlands
UEFA Women's Nations League
7.45pm GMT, Friday 1 December 2023
Wembley Stadium connected by EE

Sarina Wiegman and Lauren Hemp sat down with the media ahead of Friday night’s crucial UEFA Nations League match with the Netherlands.

The pair were asked a host of questions about a wide range of topics, including the prospect of Hemp making her 50^th appearance for the senior England team at the age of just 23.

Below are a selection of the questions and answers from the pair.

What are the dilemmas created by the absence of Millie Bright in terms of personnel, formation and leadership ahead of two huge games for you?

"She wasn't available for Chelsea before so we knew [her missing was a possibility]. We thought she would make it, she didn't, but we always knew what our next step was.

“We talk about that week in, week out, and we watch our players week in, week out, and we always think of scenarios. What if someone's not available? What options do we have? And when such a situation occurs, then we make a decision, and we move on.

“Sometimes we wait until we have had a couple of training sessions and we try out a couple of things so that's exactly what we've done."

What have you made of Beth Mead so far and it has to come into your thinking that you need the magic stardust doesn’t it?

“We have lots of players up front who are in good form. I'm really excited she's back. Of course, first of all, for her as a person, after what she has gone through the last year, yet she comes she always has a smile. She always connects with everyone, so it's good to have her in the group.

“But of course, it begins with her performances and at Arsenal she is just building into minutes and you can tell that she's in a good place.

“In her last game she was really good. She scored two goals and one of them was really nice.

“It's like she's hasn't been gone and she hasn't been away, and she feels good. You can tell she has trained really well but we have lots of hard decisions to make for tomorrow.”

Sarina Wiegman and @lauren__hemp now join us live from St. George’s Park! 🎥 https://t.co/1v5YWWm5lW

— Lionesses (@Lionesses) November 30, 2023

You said after the Belgium defeat not to panic and you aren’t going to change things but considering what is on the line, do you need to shift things a little bit tomorrow?

"Well, it depends on what you mean by we have to shift a little bit. I think we completely dominated the game against Belgium, and a couple of things we should have done better, of course, because if you do that really well, then you win the game. And we didn't win that game.

“While the intentions, how we wanted to play, where we found the space was good, just the final touch and the final moments to score goals we didn't do well enough. And of course, we gave away some counter-attacks, so we want to prevent that."

Lauren, did you ever imagine you would have reached 50 caps by the age of 23?

"It's pretty surreal and it would be a surreal feeling [to get my 50^th cap]. There's no better place to do it than Wembley so it would be an incredible feeling if I was able to do that.

“Every cap is special to me, but obviously to make 50 would just be incredible. If you told me that when I was younger, that at 23 you'd make 50 caps, I don't think I'd believe you.

“So, it would be an amazing occasion for me to be able to do that but we'll just have to wait and see."

You are going to get to 100 in no time at all. Who knows how many caps you are going to get?

“That is the dream. I work hard for every cap that I get. To make 50 is the first step and then every one after that is a bonus.

“It is exciting to think about what I could achieve in the future but I take every game as it comes."

What are the standout moments from the 50 caps and how do they help you ahead of two really big games for England?

"Looking back, I think [almost] every one of the big games that I've had, a lot of them have come from Wembley, like the EUROs final – that stands out to me. The game against Brazil, we won that as well and won another trophy and obviously beating the USA as well. So a lot of them have been done at Wembley.

“There is no better time than the present for tomorrow and to do that job as well. As you said, there's a lot at stake, and we know as a group what's expected of us. So I feel like when it comes to it and when we're put under pressure, a lot of the time we do the job.

“We know what's expected of us and hopefully, we'll be able to do that tomorrow."

Are you surprised to be third in the Nations League group or is it just a sign that the other teams are catching up with the likes of England?

"We went into the Nations League and we knew that the game is growing, teams are getting better, and while I think before teams wanted to beat England, I think that is even more the case now because we have done so well.

“If you look at the games, I don't think we played really, really poorly, just in moments, we didn't get it over the line, and then we got some losses. It is not good, we want to do better, but that's also support.

“You want to go like this all the time, and that's what we're working for, but in football, just as in life, you have ups and downs. What we want to do is to go straight forward, go high again, and that's what we're going to try to do tomorrow."

Do you keep in contact with any of the current Dutch players or staff?

Not this week.

What kind of advantage do you get from playing at Wembley, if any, when playing such a vital game tomorrow?

"I feel like as a team, it gives us so much confidence. We've played lots of big games at Wembley and obviously, we're expecting 75,000-plus, so it will be so important for the fans to turn up and every time they come they make incredible noise and it just gives us as a team so much of a boost. That'll be just as vital tomorrow.

“As a team, we're in a great place. We've had a few days of good training and we know what is expected from us, and we're ready to do a job.”

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Does it feel different walking out at Wembley compared to other stadiums?

"Walking out at Wembley is just incredible and it's an atmosphere like no other.

“For me, it's one where I pride myself, and to possibly do that on my 50^th cap would be incredible. But we'll just have to see. Playing at Wembley is a feeling like no other."

You know the Dutch team well of course. How do you feel they will cope with playing at Wembley, the occasion and the huge crowd?

"Yeah, I think they're excited too. They have an experienced team; they have played big occasions with most of the players are in the squad so they will be excited to be there and play at Wembley."

Are you expecting them to play differently compared to the game in Utrecht earlier this season?

"No, I don't think so. They will try to adapt a little bit but I hope they can't. But no, they won't change the style of play because that's been very recognizable and very clear how they play."

How confident are you that your team are ready to win these two games in what is a pressure situation?

"Yes, I think the team is ready. We're really excited to play at Wembley tomorrow. We didn't have that many training sessions, but I think the camp so far from Monday to now has gone really well.

“We're very clear on how we want to play and what we want to do. I see good things on and off the pitch, and that gives me confidence that we're really ready for tomorrow. Of course, we all know what we have to do."

Netherlands in profile

 

Match Facts and Stats

● England have lost two of their last three games against the Netherlands (W1), more than in their previous 12 combined against the Dutch (W8 D3).

● The Netherlands have lost six of their eight away games against England (W1 D1), with Sarina Wiegman’s one home game against the country of her birth seeing
the Lionesses’ triumph 5-1 at Elland Road in a June 2022 friendly.

● England have lost three of their last five games in all competitions (W2), as many as in their previous 41 games combined (W31 D7 L3). They have alternated between a win and a defeat in their last six games, last losing consecutive games in April 2021.

● The Netherlands have won their last three matches, all in the UEFA Women’s Nations League. They haven’t won more consecutively since a run of six under current England boss Sarina Wiegman between August and November 2019.

● England are unbeaten in their last 50 competitive internationals played on English soil (W43 D7) since losing 1-0 to Sweden at Ewood Park in June 2005 in a European Championships finals match.

● This will be tenth time that Wembley will play host to an England women’s international match. The Lionesses are unbeaten in their last four (W3 D1) since a 2-1 defeat to Germany in a 2019 friendly. Their one draw in this unbeaten run saw them defeat Brazil on penalties in the 2023 Finalissima.

● Since Andries Jonker took permanent charge of the Netherlands national side in 2022, only Lineth Beerensteyn (8) has scored more goals for the Dutch than Esmee Brugts (7), who has scored in her last two appearances.

● England’s Lauren Hemp has been directly involved in seven goals in her last nine appearances for the Lionesses (5 goals, 2 assists). Indeed, only Beth Mead (39) has been involved in more England goals under Sarina Wiegman than Hemp (15 goals, 14 assists).

England v Netherlands
UEFA Women's Nations League
7.45pm GMT, Friday 1 December 2023
Wembley Stadium connected by EE

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The Lionesses' line-up for the game has been picked...

 

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— Lionesses (@Lionesses) December 1, 2023

Ella Toone’s late winner kept England's UEFA Women’s Nations League hopes alive as the Lionesses beat the Netherlands 3-2 at Wembley in a thrilling encounter.

Lineth Beerensteyn’s first-half brace had moved the Group A leaders into a commanding position before England fought back after the break.

Two goals in two minutes brought the Lionesses level as Georgia Stanway and Lauren Hemp netted before Toone stabbed home to seal a vital win.

It was all England in the opening exchanges as Hemp dinked a ball over the Dutch defence which found Lauren James, whose header went just wide.

Chloe Kelly then headed just past the post having met a fizzing ball from Niamh Charles before the two Laurens combined for the game’s first shot on target.

James drove down the middle and found Hemp whose shot was tipped behind by Daphne van Domselaar but a goal-kick was awarded instead.

The Netherlands took full advantage seconds later, breaking into England’s half as Beerensteyn met a looping ball over the top and got herself between Jess Carter and Lucy Bronze to fire the visitors ahead against the run of play in the 12th minute.

England had more defending to do as Mary Earps cleared the ball away from the onrushing Beerensteyn before Danielle van de Donk fired wide.

Sherida Spitse’s corner then found its way to Jill Roord whose effort dipped onto the crossbar and out for another corner kick.

England used slick passing to move themselves into advantageous positions but were further behind in the 35th minute as Beerensteyn doubled the Dutch’s lead.

The Lionesses struggled to clear away the ball which bounced to Beerensteyn who slotted past a scrambling Earps.

Stanway gave England the chance at an immediate response as she found Kelly on the edge of the box with the winger firing just wide of the post.

James followed up with an attempt shortly after but could only send the ball straight to van Domselaar before Wembley found its voice again as Alex Greenwood sent a free-kick into the box.

Lucy Bronze was the next player to just miss the target as her header bounced past the post as England went into the break with work to do.

The Lionesses were much brighter in the second half and were rewarded as Stanway headed home a perfectly-weighted James pass in the 58th minute.

Wembley erupted seconds later as England drew level as Hemp fired into the bottom corner from the edge of the box on her 50th appearance.

The game turned into an end-to-end battle as Esmee Brugts’ shot drifted wide before Beth Mead, on her first England appearance since her return from an ACL injury, headed just past the goal.

Seconds into injury-time England found their winner as Ella Toone lashed home from close range to send the 71,632 fans inside Wembley into raptures.

England are still in the hunt for top spot in the group with a spot in the Nations League final securing Team GB a berth at Paris 2024 and face Scotland on Tuesday. 

England (4-2-3-1): 1 Mary Earps ©, 2 Lucy Beonze, 3 Niamh Charles, 4 Keira Walsh, 5 Alex Greenwood, 6 Jess Carter, 7 Chloe Kelly, 8 Georgia Stanway, 9 Fran Kirby, 10 Lauren James, 11 Lauren Hemp

Substitutes: 17 Beth Mead for Kelly 46’, 12 Esme Morgan for Carter 63’, 23 Alessia Russo for 68’, 14 Ella Toone for Stanway 68’, 19 Rachel Daly for Charles 86’

Substitutes not used: 13 Hannah Hampton, 15 Lotte Wubben-Moy, 16 Katie Zelem, 18 Grace Clinton, 20 Maya Le Tissier, 21 Khiara Keating, 22 Millie Turner

Goals: Georgia Stanway 59’, Lauren Hemp 60’, Ella Toone 90+1’

Cautions: Alex Greenwood 32’

Head coach: Sarina Wiegman

Netherlands: 1 Daphne van Domselaar, 3 Caitlin Dijkstra, 6 Jill Roord, 7 Lineth Beerensteyn, 8 Sherida Spitse (c), 10 Danielle van de Donk, 11 Lieke Martens, 14 Jackie Groenen, 17 Victoria Pelova, 20 Dominique Janssen, 22 Esmee Brugts

Substitutes: 21 Damaris Egurrola for Groenen 46’, 18 Kerstin Casparij for Jansen 63’, 13 Renate Jansen for Pelova 64’, 5 Merel van Dongen for Spitse 70’, 12 Shanice van de Sanden for Van de Donk 85’

Substitutes not used: 2 Lynn Wilms, 4 Romée Leuchter, 9 Vivianne Miedema, 15 Katja Snoejis, 16 Jacintha Weimar, 19 Wieke Kaptein, 23 Barbara Lorsheyd

Goals: Lineth Beerensteyn 12’ 35’

Cautions: Merel van Dongen 78’

Head coach: Andries Jonker