Lauren Hemp scores twice as England demolish Italy

Four days on from obliterating Austria 7-2, Lauren Hemp's brace, Lotte Wubben-Moy's header, Ella Toone's volley and Rachel Daly's tap-in contributed to a near-perfect night for the Lionesses, while Andrea Soncin's side only had a Michela Cambiaghi consolation to cheer.

The two nations had already locked horns on 32 occasions in women's football, with Italy edging the head-to-head by 15 wins to 11, but the Lionesses' first-half goal rush began inside the opening minute.

Alex Greenwood sent in a pinpoint inswinging corner from the right, and Arsenal defender Wubben-Moy simply bent down, let the ball strike her head at the near post and revelled in her first England goal as her effort nestled into the far side of the net.

Sarina Wiegman's side had assumed full control of their clash with a shell-shocked Italy outfit, who could not lay a glove on England in the opening exchanges and were fortunate not to concede a second to Wubben-Moy in the seventh minute; goalkeeper Laura Giuliani pushed another header from the Gunners representative behind.

England were thoroughly dominating their foes from dead-ball situations, though, and with 21 minutes on the clock, the Azzurre failed to deal with another corner and were made to pay the price.

Giuliani managed to get a fist on Greenwood's delivery, but the Italy goalkeeper could only punch the ball out to Hemp, who went to shoot but instead scored a far more unorthodox goal; Italy midfielder Aurora Galli whacked the ball against Hemp's leg and witnessed the ricochet sail into the net past several blue and white shirts.

The goal was one of the more fortuitous ones Hemp will score, but an on-song England were full value for their 2-0 advantage, and Wiegman's side more or less put the game to bed with 34 minutes on the board.

Once again, Italy had no answer to the Lionesses' threatening corners, as the Azzure squandered a couple of opportunities to whack the ball clear, allowing Hemp to guide a delightful header into the top corner from Georgia Stanway's volleyed delivery.

Giuliani got a hand to Hemp's effort but was powerless to prevent the Manchester City winger notching her second of the afternoon, although England's clean sheet would be wiped out just before the break, as Cambiaghi prodded home following a defensive lapse from the Lionesses.

Wiegman still saw fit to make a couple of half-time alterations, introducing Jess Carter and Lauren James for Niamh Charles and Alessia Russo, and England remained on top at the start of a more low-key second half.

James would test Giuliani from distance in the 64th minute, and while her strike was a good height for the Italy goalkeeper, there was nothing that the 30-year-old could do to deny Toone in the 69th minute.

It was no surprise to see James involved again, as the ever-dangerous Chelsea winger took down a fabulous long ball from Greenwood and crossed for Toone, whose exquisite side-footed volley flew into the top corner.

The final whistle could not come soon enough for a beleaguered Italy, whose evening went from bad to worse in the 79th minute, when Daly rolled the ball into an empty net for the Lionesses' fifth after Giuliani was sold short from a backpass.

An evening of celebration ended with Millie Turner earning her long-awaited England debut off the bench, and Wiegman's troops now wait to learn their Euro 2025 qualifying fate, with the draw taking place on March 5.