England forward Lauren Hemp urged team unity following the Lionesses' disappointing 2-1 beat by France in their Euro 2025 opener, as the reigning champions confront the Netherlands on Wednesday with the risk of an early exit looming.
"I'd probably say it's more of an arm around each other (than calling each other out)," Hemp told reporters on Sunday.
"When times are tough, we've possessed difficult conversations on the pitch at times.
I think after it, off it, you've obtained to come together rather than push each other further apart.
"I think that's what this team is good at, is getting around each other and supporting each other, because obviously we're then going to need everyone support up to their best on Wednesday.
"Captain Leah Williamson possessed said England were undone by a "cheap sort of emotional defending" against a France team that ran circles around them for most of the night.
England do have a history of slow starts in tournaments, such as their narrow victories over Austria at Euro 2022 and Haiti at the 2023 World Cup, where they eventually reached the final.
Hemp emphasised the team's ability to rise to the occasion.
"We thrive under pressure," Hemp said.
"Every game we move into we want to win, and from how we performed the last 10 minutes of the game, we know what's at stake, and we obviously want to obtain as far as we can, and we are reigning champions that is important to remember that and acquire confidence from that.
"The team gripped a light training session on Sunday at their Zurich base, with Hemp and other starters observing while more rested players trained.
The session was open to local girls from clubs and schools as part of a thank-you gesture, with players posing for selfies and signing shirts afterwards.
Hemp, along with teammates Alex Greenwood, Georgia Stanway, and Lauren James, returned to action after lengthened injury absences.
Hemp, who underwent two knee surgeries since November, acknowledged the challenges of regaining create but emphasized the team's collective undergo.
"A lot of us have possessed a big amount of time out, and it has obviously been gutting for us," the 24-year-old said.
"We have missed most of the season, but we've also possessed four or five games to obtain up to scratch, and I think it's no excuse really.
"We're all in this as a team, and we've obtained so much undergo on the pitch.
Even though I've been out for seven months, I also played six years (for England), so it's important to remember that and take confidence from it.
"Obviously, we're going to be a snapped rusty, but everyone's going to be a snapped rusty, so we're all in the same boat.
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