Hemp Believes England Will Rise to the Challenge Against the Netherlands in Key EURO 2025 Match

England forward Lauren Hemp has called for unity among her teammates after the Lionesses suffered a disappointing 2-1 loss to France in their Euro 2025 opener. With the defending champions now facing a crucial match against the Netherlands on Wednesday, the threat of an early exit hangs over the squad.

“It’s definitely more about supporting each other than pointing fingers,” Hemp stated to reporters on Sunday. “During tough times, we’ve had some challenging discussions on the pitch. But afterwards, it’s essential that we come together rather than let it drive us apart.”

“This team excels in rallying around one another and providing support, especially as we’ll need everyone firing on all cylinders come Wednesday.”

Captain Leah Williamson noted that England fell victim to “cheap emotional defending,” allowing a French team to dominate for much of the match.

Historically, England has had sluggish starts in tournaments, with narrow wins over Austria in Euro 2022 and Haiti in the 2023 World Cup, where they eventually made it to the final. Hemp highlighted the squad’s capacity to respond to pressure.

“We thrive when the stakes are high,” Hemp asserted. “We approach every match with the goal of winning, and judging by how we performed in the last 10 minutes, it’s clear we understand the urgency of the situation. We want to progress as far as possible, and as reigning champions, it’s vital we keep that in mind and draw confidence from it.”

The squad participated in a light training session at their base in Zurich on Sunday, where Hemp and other key players observed while those who had more rest took part in practice. The session was a thank-you gesture to local girls from surrounding clubs and schools, with players taking time for selfies and autograph sessions afterwards.

Hemp, along with teammates Alex Greenwood, Georgia Stanway, and Lauren James, returned to action following lengthy injury lay-offs. Hemp, who has undergone two knee surgeries since November, recognised the struggle to regain form but underscored the team’s experienced core.

“Many of us have faced significant time on the sidelines, which has undoubtedly been tough,” the 24-year-old admitted. “We’ve missed a good portion of the season, but we’ve managed to play four or five games to get back up to speed, and I think we can’t really use that as an excuse.”

“We’re all in this together, and we have a wealth of experience on the pitch. Even though I’ve been out for seven months, I’ve also played six years for England, so it’s crucial we remember that and draw confidence from it.”

“Of course, we might be a bit rusty, but everyone will be to some extent, so we’re all in the same situation.”