LAUREN HEMP is relishing a physical test against the Republic of Ireland after England’s tough Euros qualifier draw against Sweden.
And the Lioness, 23, wants the European champs to strike fear in their rivals as they chase the first win of their push to play in next year’s contest.
Hemp came close to scoring in the dying stages of England’s Wembley duel with Sweden.
Their qualifier opener ended 1-1 after Fridolina Rolfo levelled in the second half following Alessia Russo’s headed first-half goal.
The result leaves Sarina Wiegman’s side third in their group before their Tuesday night clash with the Republic of Ireland.
Only the top two teams from the four groups of League A of the Euros qualifiers are guaranteed automatic qualification for the tournament
Teams that finish outside those positions will battle for the 2025’s remaining places via play-offs against national teams from Leagues C and B.
Ahead of the game at Dublin’s Aviva Stadium, 55-capped Hemp said: “We let it slip and we let Sweden score and it’s very annoying.
“We had lots of chances that we couldn’t put away and could have been a bit tighter on the ball at times but it’s on to the next (match).
“It’s going to be a very physical game (against the Republic of Ireland) but we’re all up for it.
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“We’ve all played in big games before and I’m excited to go there, I’ve not played there (at the Aviva) before.
“It’s going to be a tough game, we know that, but we also know how good we are as a squad and we can take on anyone.”
England’s score draw against Sweden included Arsenal’s Lotte Wubben-Moy making her first start under Wiegman in a Euros qualifier.
And her club and country team-mate Leah Williamson, who skippered England to Euros glory two years ago, was named on the bench
The 13-capped centre-back, 25 said: “Sarina said, ‘Go out and enjoy it. You’ve earned it’.
“That put a smile on my face because delayed gratification brings a lot of joy and I wouldn’t have wanted to get a start without it being justified.
Of the 1-1 end to their duel with Sweden, Wubben-Moy added: “We’re quite disappointed in general because this is the first step in our qualification journey.
“There’s a lot we can learn from this both personally but also collectively as a team.
“We posed Sweden challenges and we’ve got to look at that and take the positives with that too.
The Republic of Ireland whose stars include Arsenal’s Katie McCabe, fell to a narrow 1-0 loss to France.
“The result leaves them bottom of what has been dubbed a group of death the qualifiers for a place in next year’s Euros in Switzerland
And with England playing in the qualifiers for the first time as contest champions, Hemp hopes opponents will fear the threat posed by her team.
The forward added: “We are European champions, and we want to keep that.
“It’s important for us to win as many games as possible and get ourselves back in and amongst it.
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“It’s good to have teams come up and be like, ‘Oh my God, we’ve got England’, that’s what we want to be.
“We want to be a hard-working team, hard to beat. I think it’s great having that.”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
