England take on Sweden in a Euro 2022 semi-final featuring a wealth of attacking talent on both teams.
Here we take a look at how rival wingers Lauren Hemp and Kosovare Asllani could help decide the first place in Sunday’s final.
Lauren Hemp
Position: Forward
Age: 21
Height: 5ft 4in
Caps: 26
Tournament goals: One
Tournament attempts: 11
Tournament assists: One
Debut: 2019
Club: Manchester City
The Manchester City winger has been a key part of England’s success under Sarina Wiegman and has already contributed in this tournament with a goal and an assist in the 8-0 group-stage rout of Norway. Goals have occasionally been hard to come by but since finally breaking her international duck in style with four in November’s 20-0 win over Latvia, she has eight in her last 13 caps. She was below her best for much of the quarter-final against Spain but after surviving Wiegman’s wave of substitutions, she forced her way into the game and her decoy run opened the path for Georgia Stanway’s stunning winner. Her set-piece delivery could also have a part to play.
Kosovare Asllani
Position: Forward
Age: 32
Height: 5ft 5in
Caps: 165
Tournament goals: One
Tournament attempts: 13
Tournament assists: One
Debut: 2008
Club: AC Milan
The new AC Milan signing’s experience is in contrast to Hemp’s youth but their impact has been similar. Captain Asllani’s only goal of the tournament so far came via a penalty against Portugal but she had assists in all three group games to jointly lead the tournament standings in that category. She scored against England in the 2019 World Cup third-place play-off and her ability with the ball at her feet could create a selection headache for Wiegman given the way left-back Rachel Daly was tormented by Spain substitute Athenea Del Castillo in the quarter-final. Like Hemp, Asllani is also a key set-piece taker for a team who thrive on such situations.
