England has reinvented itself after the title at the home European Championship last year and numerous personnel failures on the way to the World Cup final against Spain. Lauren Hemp, who is only 23 years old, has grown into one of the main roles.
And there it was again – the Sydney stadium directors were playing”Sweet Caroline“, and the English fans roared along enthusiastically. The song, which certainly still makes the hair of so many women’s football fans in Germany stand on end after the loss of the European Championship final in London last year, the “lionesses” on the pitch. They were the home team in 2022 – now they had kicked hosts Australia out of the tournament with a 3-1 win. England celebrated, the “Matildas” and their fans shed “Sweet Caroline” bitter tears.
“I’m sorry”said England’s manager Sarina Wiegman. But sympathy was naturally limited. “We have achieved incredible things. We are in the World Cup final and of course we want to win that“, said Lauren Hemp, the official player of the game. In the final on Sunday (12 noon, in the live ticker and in the audio live stream at sportschau.de) Spain is waiting, which like England has never been a world champion in women.
Wiegman reinvented her team
It sounds like the English women are simply continuing their story from last year when they clinched the European title. But even if some faces are the same, many things are very different: Captain Leah Williamson and top scorer Beth Mead both missing due to a cruciate ligament tear. playmaker Frank Kirby (Knee problems) is absent, as is record scorer Ellen White (end of career). In short: Wiegman has done nothing less than reinvent the team. With a new system (3-5-2 instead of 4-5-1) and with new protagonists.
Hemp starring at the World Cup
European champion Hemp plays one of the main roles at the World Cup, especially after Lauren James’ red card in the round of 16 against Nigeria. 23 years old and just 1.63 meters tall – one could underestimate the Manchester City striker at first glance. Her shy demeanor at the post-semifinal press conference, which FIFA protocol stipulates for the award-winning players, fitted the bill.
The team has helped me bring out the best in me. I’m probably playing the best football of my career so far.
But her glance at the assembled crowd of press after she had sat down, with a mischievous smile on her lips, shattered this impression. Like an old hand, Hemp, who was still an apprentice at the European Championships alongside White, Mead and Co., answered the questions asked: “I’m probably playing the best football of my career right now”said the young woman from Norfolk in the east of England. “We didn’t want to be scared of the crowd. And the team helped me bring out the best in me.”
England defied the many setbacks
Wiegman has followed the development of her players closely. With the European Championship title last year, a lot would have changed for them. “Expectations in England have always been high, but now the attention was even greater – and the girls still had to perform.”explained the Dutchwoman, who is in her fourth tournament final after the 2017 and 2022 European Championships, when her teams won them, and the 2019 World Cup.
“It’s hard to describe how proud I am. We’ve had so many setbacks. But the team is very good at supporting each other. And I’m sure my players will continue to grow with the new experiences become.”
Hemp ensures Australia’s “game over”
Hemp’s momentum came in the semi-final against Australia when it was needed most. When Ella Toone made it 1-0, Hemp had kicked over the ball. Eight minutes after Australia’s Sam Kerr equalized when the game was on the verge of a tipping point, she capitalized on an inattention from Ellie Carpenter to put England back in front.
In the final phase, the “Matildas” were actually close to equalizing again. But then Hemp took heart – and started sprinting. Stephen Catley did not get into the duel, Katrina Gorry’s attempt to foul the Englishwoman was in vain. Hemp blasted halfway and put through to her strike partner Alessia Russo in world-class fashion. “That was such a great pass”the trainer marveled.
“game over” said Australia’s Tony Gustavsson afterwards. And Wiegmann described: “After the 3: 1 I thought that we wouldn’t let that take us anymore.”
“Sweet Laura Hemp” instead of “Sweet Caroline”?
Spain is now waiting in the final against which the “lionesses” prevailed 2-1 after extra time in the quarter-finals of the European Championships at home. And just like back then in Brighton and Hove, we want to do it again on Sunday in the final in Sydney “Sweet Caroline” sound.
And maybe even songwriter Neil Diamond could serve as a role model for the team. The U.S-Amerikaner didn’t let himself be diverted from his path at the end of the 1960s either. Actually – so it is said – Diamond wanted to write a song for his wife Marcia. Her name didn’t fit lyrically. He rededicated the title without further ado, landing his first number one hit and becoming a star. It can only be a coincidence that football England has been waiting for a World Cup title since the Wembley goal against Germany and thus since the 1960s.
German and Australian fans alike are probably now hoping that they “Sweet Caroline” will not have to be heard too often anymore. Or a suggestion for goodness: Perhaps the three syllables Caroline could also be replaced by the three from Lauren Hemp.