Lauren Hemp scored twice as England thrashed Italy 5-1 in an international friendly.
Lotte Wubben-Moy headed England in front from a first minute corner before Hemp fired in from a scrappy 21st minute clearance.
Hemp claimed her second goal with a 34th minute header from Georgia Stanway’s cross to extend the Lionesses’ lead, which was further extended through second-half goals from substitutes; Ella Toone and Rachel Daly.
Michela Cambiaghi netted Italy’s consolatory goal in first-half injury-time from Michela Catena’s pass.
Following their dominant friendly win over Austria, England once again quickly imposed themselves and won a corner in the opening minute, from which Wubben-Moy nodded into the bottom-left corner from Greenwood’s corner-kick to put the Lionesses into an early lead.
Wiegman’s Lionesses continued to press on the front foot against a defensive Italian team who struggled to make much impact, and won another corner in the 21st minute which ultimately was poorly cleared by Aurora Galli but Hemp was alert to fire in England’s second goal.
England’s first fragility became apparent in the 31st minute as Niamh Charles played a sloppy backpass towards Mary Earps, which Cambiaghi intercepted but failed to cut back before the ball rolled out of play as she attempted a cutback which Earps saved.
That rare chance for England was soon punished as a 34th minute corner was scrappily cleared to Lucy Bronze, who pulled back for Stanway to whip into the centre of the box, where Hemp was free to nod in beyond Laura Giuliani to claim her second goal.
England almost wrapped up the friendly before half-time as Grace Clinton – who has been creative throughout the first half – played Chloe Kelly forward, but she and Alessia Russo saw shots blocked as England failed to extend their lead further.
Italy instead reignited their hopes of getting anything out of this game in the third minute of first-half injury time, as a quick attack fell for Catena to tee up Cambiaghi to flick across into the bottom-right corner.
England however weren’t fazed by that setback despite Charles and Russo’ substitutions at half-time for Jess Carter and Lauren James, as Clinton headed wide from Kelly’s 51st minute cross.
James then saw a 64th minute on-the-turn shot saved by Giuliani but she turned provider five minutes later, in which she broke forward up the left and teed up Toone to lash into the top-left corner to restore England’s three-goal lead.
Cambiaghi saw a 71st minute shot roll wide across the face of goal as Italy continued to create rare chances, despite their improved second-half pressing.
England eventually got a fifth goal after Daly intercepted a 79th minute backpass to Giuliani and calmly broke forward to smash into an empty goal.
Hemp nearly completed her hat-trick in the 88th minute after Giuliani deflected James’ shot into her path but the forward nodded just wide of the top-left corner, as England cruised to victory.
England and Italy now will discover their UEFA Women’s Euro 2020 qualification paths in the draw on Tuesday 5 March, with Qualifying held across April, May-June and July followed by Play-Offs in Autumn.
Teams
England: Mary Earps, Lucy Bronze, Lotte Wubben-Moy, Alex Greenwood (Turner 80′), Niamh Charles (Carter 45′), Keira Walsh, Georgia Stanway (Toone 64′), Grace Clinton (Park 64′), Chloe Kelly (Daly 71′), Alessia Russo (James 45′), Lauren Hemp
Substitutes: Jess Carter, Hannah Hampton, Ella Toon, Esme Morgan, Lauren James, Beth Mead, Maya Le Tissier, Rachel Daly, Jess Park, Kiara Kheating, Millie Turner
Italy: Laura Giuliani, Lucia Di Guglilmo (Serturini 71′), Martina Lenzini, Elen Linari, Valentina Bergamaschi (Salvai 52′), Arianna Caruso, Aurora Galli (Severini 71′), Michela Catena (Bonfantini 52′), Lisa Boattin, Sofia Cantore (Dragoni 80′), Michela Cambiaghi (Girelli 81′)
Substitutes: Katja Schroffenegger, Amanda Tampieri, Elisa Bartoli, Emma Severini, Annamaria Serturini, Julie Piga, Giulia Dragoni, Martina Piemonte, Cristiana Girelli, Agnese Bonfantini, Benedetta Glionna, Cecilia Salvai, Aurora De Rita, Eva Schatzer, Elisabetta Oliviero
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