Hannah Hampton has cemented her status as England's number one goalkeeper with a series of outstanding saves in the latest World Cup qualifiers. Sarina Wiegman hailed the Chelsea shot-stopper as 'world-class' after she produced crucial stops to preserve 1-0 leads against Spain and Iceland.
Despite recent scrutiny at club level, Hampton has been immense for the Lionesses, making several huge interventions to keep clean sheets. Wiegman noted that increased visibility in the women's game brings both praise and criticism, but Hampton has dealt with it admirably.
The victory in Reykjavík was hard-fought, with Iceland's physical and organised style testing England's ability to play to their strengths. The Lionesses struggled to build on their early lead and were forced into a scrappy contest, but ultimately ground out three critical points to maintain their top spot in the qualifying group.
Alessia Russo continued her excellent form, providing a stunning assist against Spain and scoring a fine solo goal against Iceland. The Arsenal forward's versatility has been a major asset, with her never-say-die attitude and technical quality shining through.
Defensively, Lotte Wubben-Moy has seized her opportunity following Leah Williamson's injury, impressing in both qualifiers. Esme Morgan has also stepped up since her move to Washington Spirit, competing for a place in a back line that remains a work in progress for Wiegman.
