Lauren Hemp: England Forward Shows Support for Women's World Cup Champions Spain Amid Luis Rubiales Controversy
England forward Lauren Hemp discusses the aftermath of the Women's World Cup final, expressing support for the Spain team in their fight for reforms She also addresses the challenges posed by an 'excessive' fixture calendar, urging a reconsideration
Lauren Hemp stated that the England Women's World Cup final defeat to Spain in Sydney last month has only intensified their determination to win more international trophies. Despite coming so close to victory against the eventual champions, with the loss being decided by an Olga Carmona goal, Hemp believes that England's "talented group" is now even more motivated for success. However, she also acknowledged that it has taken some time to come to terms with the bitter disappointment of August's defeat.
Hemp showed her support for the victorious Spanish team following the controversy surrounding the World Cup medal ceremony. The previous FA president, Luis Rubiales, caused a scandal by kissing midfielder Jenni Hermoso, which detracted attention from the team's accomplishments on the field. In response, thirty-nine Spanish female players, almost the entire World Cup squad, raised concerns about safety and called for further changes within the federation. On Wednesday morning, an agreement was reached, although the specific details of the changes have not been disclosed.
Image:
Lauren Hemp expressed her thoughts on the Women's World Cup final in August, stating that it will take time to fully reflect on the experience. In an exclusive conversation with We, she discussed the team's current focus and mentioned a heightened hunger and desire. Despite their disappointment in losing the final, she expressed pride in their achievements but emphasized their strong desire to win.
"It is an inspiration for us to strive for success. This group is truly remarkable. The thrill of being in the company of such talented individuals ignites our belief in achieving greatness. We are determined to surpass all expectations and reach new heights." Regarding Spain, Hemp expressed, "The distressing situation they face deeply saddens us. As a united team, we are committed to expressing our solidarity. It is crucial that we stand alongside them and support whatever choices the Spain players have to make."
"We will continue to offer our unwavering support to them, as it is indeed unjust. They absolutely do not deserve this treatment. Their remarkable achievements at the World Cup ought to be acknowledged and appreciated.
It is crucial for us to demonstrate our respect and prevent such incidents from occurring, as it is essential for the overall progress of women's sports. We are determined to contribute towards the growth of women's game, and this kind of behavior is definitely not conducive to achieving that."
The Lionesses open their group campaign in the inaugural Nations League against Scotland on Friday - via which they can secure Paris 2024 Olympics qualification for Team GB.
Daly: 'Excessive' fixture calendar needs a rethink
Rachel Daly believes that the women's game should reconsider its calendar due to the excessive number of games. Sarina Wiegman, the England manager, expressed her deep concern about this issue last week when she announced her squad for upcoming matches against Scotland at Sunderland's Stadium of Light on Friday and the Netherlands in Utrecht four days later.
The Lionesses' World Cup campaign ended with the final on August 20, and there have been Champions League qualifying matches after that.
Daly expressed in a press conference: "I believe that the calendar is an issue that needs attention in the future."
The past year or so has seen a notable increase in injuries, which may be attributed to the hectic schedule and numerous games, particularly for the girls participating in the Champions League.
It is necessary to examine and resolve this issue in the future. However, at present, we cannot reduce the amount of game time we have. Therefore, we must confront this challenge directly and focus on improving our physical and mental fitness to continue playing.
"We've got to get straight back into it, with our clubs, internationally, and we're all just ready to go again and focus on the upcoming Nations League."
