The Lionesses who kept England in the World Cup: How breakthrough starlets Lauren Hemp and Alessia Russo helped squad claw ahead of Colombia in tense quarter-final showdown
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England came one step closer to World Cup glory after beating their Colombian rivals 2-1 in a tense 90-minute clash over who would enter the semi-finals.
The game was saved by two Lionesses in particular, whose goals pushed the team closer to victory in the tournament Down Under.
Humble Manchester City ace Lauren saved the first half of England’s World Cup clash with Colombia today, scoring an equaliser in the tense quarter-final game.
The breakthrough star, who is just 23-years-old, was a key player in the Euros 2022, quickly became a household name and amassing a huge Instagram following.
Forward Russo, who has shot to fame with than 13.4million followers on Instagram receiving £241,000 per branded post, then went on to smash a second ball past the Columbian keeper and into the back of the net.
Lauren Hemp, 23, scored in the 43rd minute, following a rocky start where the England team, playing in the World Cup in Sydney
Hemp could have easily had a professional career in cricket but, thankfully for the England team, she ditched that route, and chased her footballing dream.
The star forward scored in the 43rd minute, following a rocky start where the England team, playing Down Under, were booed by opposition fans as they battled to reach the quarter finals.
It gave a much needed boost of confidence to the Lionesses who have gone on to score another goal, bringing them up to 2-1 in the second half.
Following the sneaky goal that the Columbian goalkeeper was unable to get hands on, an ecstatic Hemp was seen punching the air before running to her teammates.
Off the pitch, however, Hemp is described as being quiet, polite and unassuming – despite her explosive and powerful character on pitch.
Hemp’s starring role has seen her rack up 228,000 followers on Instagram
Hemp abroad with her former Man City star, goalkeeper Sandy MacIver
Hemp grew up in North Walsham, Norfolk, and played for the local team before joining Norwich City in 2008. She trained in the boys’ development programme in her teens as well as representing Norwich’s centre of excellence.
‘Lauren loved running with the ball and scoring goals,’ says her former Norwich coach Ian Thornton. ‘Like many attacking players she missed more than she scored at a young age!’
By the time she was 21, she had won the PFA Young Player of the Year a record four time and for three successive seasons.
Yet she remains humble – with those around her suggesting her biggest strength is that she does not know how good she is.
‘Lauren is very laid-back, but I think it’s important she stays that way,’ her City and England team-mate Demi Stokes previously said. ‘We’re always encouraging her. We’ll all support her and, well, give her the ball and say ‘run!’.’
Some what of a prodigy, the player made her international debut for the Lionesses at just 18-years-old.
She is now a key member of the squad who helped the team secure their Euros titles last summer and is a key driving force for Sarina Weighman’s team in the world cup.
A cheery looking Hemp during the Lionesses Down Under stop off in Adelaide earlier this month
Hemp’s starring role has seen her rack up 228,000 followers on Instagram with a very impressive 201 percent growth over the past 12 month
Hemp lifts the trophy following the Women’s Finalissima at Wembley Stadium in April 2023
Hemp’s starring role has seen her rack up 228,000 followers on Instagram with a very impressive 201 percent growth over the past 12 month.
She even starred in an episode of Hollyoaks last year, following the teams success at the Euros.
She was seen playing herself, giving a helping hand to Kathleen-Angel McQueen by coaching her football team.
On the pitch, her biggest strength is said to be that she is ‘very coachable’ and will listen to constructive feedback before trying again.
‘Lauren’s biggest strength was she was very coachable,’ says Thornton. ‘Her coaches would comment that she would ‘listen and try’ and for a young player you can’t ask much more.
‘We didn’t see a future England player at all but what we did see was huge potential, both technically and tactically. She was always small in stature and had to try really hard to compete with her opposition.’
At just 16, Norwich’s centre of excellence was shut down, causing Hemp to bravely move away from home to play for Bristol City. She had previously struggled being away when she toured with Norwich – recalling struggling to get to sleep and crying at night.
‘The biggest piece of advice I gave her parents was to get her to practice staying away from home more,’ says Thornton.
Striker Lauren Hemp bootless as she practises her control at home in an oversized Norwich City strip, and her now as an adult
Hemp made a cameo in Hollyoaks, as she offers a helping hand to Kathleen-Angel McQueen by coaching her football team
The football star appeared in the village, leaving the residents star-struck with her skills
‘If she was to receive an England call-up, she needed to be able to cope and I wasn’t sure she was strong enough to do that.’
She quickly soared while playing for Bristol, scoring nine goals in her first season.
And then Manchester City called her in, handing her an offer she could not turn down.
The modest footballer, previously recalled when she first realised she was becoming more well-known not just in the world of sport, by members of the public.
In 2020, a year after signing with City, she was noticed by a young girl in her local chippy.
She told the Mail: ”I did get noticed in a chip shop once by some young girls from a local side that I had played for. It probably wasn’t the best place to get recognised even though I wasn’t actually getting something [to eat], I’d just gone along with my sister.
‘I think it’s nice for them to know that there is a way to get to the top even though you’re from an area that not that many people come from. There’s not that many opportunities where I’m from in Norwich but as the women’s game grows, it’s nice to see more.’
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