England defeated Italy 5-1, with Lauren Hemp scoring two goals as the dominant Lionesses crushed the Azzurre to extend their winning streak.

Sarina Wiegman, the head coach of the England women’s national team, expressed her gratitude and excitement after winning the Best Women’s Coach award for the fourth time. Wiegman, who has been instrumental in the team’s recent success, feels incredibly privileged to receive such recognition.

In their latest friendly match against Italy, England displayed their dominance with a resounding 5-1 victory. This win marked their fourth consecutive triumph, highlighting their impressive form. The Lionesses faced a tough challenge against an unbeaten Azzurre side, who had recently defeated the world champions, Spain, in the UEFA Nations League.

England’s proficiency in set pieces proved to be their secret weapon in the first half. Lotte Wubben-Moy opened the scoring with a header from a corner, followed by two goals from Lauren Hemp, also originating from corners. Italy managed to pull one back just before half-time, giving them a glimmer of hope.

Sarina Wiegman made five changes to the team that had previously thrashed Austria 7-2. The new-look side wasted no time in making an impact, as Wubben-Moy found the back of the net within the first minute. Italy’s goalkeeper, Laura Giuliani, made a crucial save to deny Wubben-Moy a second goal.

However, Giuliani’s fortunes quickly turned as her weak punch from a corner fell to Hemp, who capitalized on the opportunity to score her second goal of the match. Italy’s struggles in defending corners continued when they failed to clear their lines, allowing Hemp to complete her hat-trick with a header.

Just before the end of the first half, Italy managed to reduce the deficit through Michela Cambiaghi, who expertly finished a pass from Michela Catena. Despite this setback, England remained in control of the game.

Wiegman made strategic substitutions at half-time, bringing on Lauren James and Jess Carter. James immediately showcased her attacking prowess with a powerful shot that forced a diving save from Giuliani. England extended their lead to four goals when James provided a well-placed cut-back for Ella Toone to volley home.

Cambiaghi had a golden opportunity to score for Italy but failed to convert from close range. England took advantage of a defensive error from Italy, as Rachel Daly capitalized on a misjudged backpass to round the goalkeeper and score their fifth goal.

Hemp came close to securing a hat-trick late in the game, but her header went wide after a parried shot from James. Overall, it was a dominant performance from England, who have now scored 18 goals in their last three matches.

The victory against Italy further solidifies England’s position as a force to be reckoned with in women’s football. With Wiegman at the helm, the Lionesses are poised for continued success in the future.