‘You really want to beat your friends’: Wiegman steels England for USA test
TThe prospect of the European champions hosting the Olympic champions is enough intrigue in itself. But add in Emma Hayes’ triumphant return to Wembley, and an England side with much to improve after defeating Germany the last time they played at the national stadium, and this is much more than a friendly between the highest ranked teams in the competition. world.
For an England team hoping to retain the title at next summer’s European Championship in Switzerland, there is no greater benchmark than testing itself against the United States, who are ranked No. 1 and look completely rejuvenated since Hayes left Chelsea to to take charge in May.
“As long as I’ve been an England player it’s one of the most exciting games to play in,” said right-back Lucy Bronze. “There seems to be a rivalry that has arisen out of nowhere in recent decades. And we know that it doesn’t matter which players are on the pitch or who the manager is, it’s a high-level competitive game.
“It’s a good level because the US just won an Olympic gold medal. It takes a lot to win a tournament, we know that. To win the Olympics you have to be intense, you have to be ruthless, you have to have a crazy mentality, and I think that sums up the US perfectly, so I think if we can go head-to-head with a team like that, seeing the mentality that is needed, learning from any mistakes we make in the game, pushing ourselves and showing what we are capable of, showing what we can do against such a top team, it will test us very well useful for the next eight months.”
The visitors, historically the most successful international team in women’s football, are undefeated in their thirteen games under Hayes. They won 12 and drew 0-0 with Costa Rica in July, during a 40-degree heatwave in Washington DC. At the Olympics they beat Germany twice, as well as Australia, Japan and an improving Brazil in the final, and Hayes was all smiles in the build-up.
England head coach Sarina Wiegman spoke about her friendship with Hayes on Friday, but the Dutchwoman said: “It’s the same now when we play against the US or against the Netherlands: you really want to beat your friends, maybe even more than when you don’t is. your friends. They are number 1 in the world. Emma Hayes, we used to work together and now we are opponents, while in the football world we are actually one family, but tomorrow we will absolutely compete.”
It won’t be a full-strength American side. Minor injuries prevented Hayes from calling upon their formidable front three of Trinity Rodman, Sophia Smith and Mallory Swanson, who nicknamed themselves ‘Triple Espresso’ this year. Caffeinated or not, the US will have a potent attacking threat no matter who lines up, with the likes of NJ/NY Gotham FC forward Lynn Williams ready to shine.
England’s forward line will also be below par. Manchester City winger Lauren Hemp is out after knee surgery, while Chelsea’s Lauren James and Manchester United’s Ella Toone are also injured, potentially offering opportunities for Manchester City duo Chloe Kelly and Jess Park or the 21-year-old Manchester United player Grace Clinton .
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England will also have to make do without Manchester United captain Maya Le Tissier. Wiegman says the defenseman went through concussion protocols and only returned to the field for non-contact training. Of the eight players from the two countries nominated this week for the FIFA Best Women’s Player of 2024 award, up to four will be available, including Bronze.
The former Barcelona defender, asked about the respect England have for the US, said: “You get that level [of respect] when two teams or people have reached the highest level and understand what it takes to get there. As an England team we have always understood that the US have had to do so much to get where they are today. They are such a great team, both on and off the pitch, that is something we really admire about them and something they have inspired us to do as an England team after winning the European Championship.
“When I saw what they were doing, trying to change women’s football in America, we had that opportunity in England too, and in that respect we’re kind of bouncing off each other off the field now. We are friends, we are rivals, we are a community, but at the same time we still want to beat each other. With England and America it is always that high level of ‘rivals’ but of ‘respect’.”