Wiegman Seeks Victory Over Friend Hayes In England Vs USA Friendly At Wembley

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Sarina Wiegman is eager to outshine her friend Emma Hayes in the highly anticipated match between England and the United States at Wembley on Saturday. The Lionesses will face the USA before a crowd of 85,000 in what marks Hayes' first encounter against England since her Chelsea tenure. A strong rivalry has emerged between these two national teams over the past decade, promising an exciting match.

England's recent victory over the USA in October 2022 ended with a score of 2-1. However, they have not achieved consecutive wins against the Stars and Stripes since their initial encounters in 1985 and 1988. Under Hayes' management, the USA has won 12 out of 13 matches across all competitions, with one draw. Only Vlatko Andonovski and Pia Sundhage have matched or exceeded this record in their early games as USWNT managers.

Wiegman acknowledges her friendship with Hayes but admits it will be set aside for the duration of Saturday's game. "It's a fact," Wiegman stated about their friendship. "I think with friends, you really want to beat your friends. Even more, maybe, than [managers who are] not your friends." She noted that under Emma's guidance, the USA's style is more patient but still incredibly fast-paced.

The Lionesses have had mixed results recently, losing 4-3 to Germany at Wembley last month before defeating South Africa four days later. Meanwhile, the USA remains unbeaten in their last 19 friendly matches, winning 17 and drawing two while keeping clean sheets in 15 of those games. However, they lost their last two friendlies in Europe against England and Spain in July and November 2022 respectively.

The USA has faced difficulties when playing in England. They will meet the Lionesses away from home for only the fourth time, having won just once in their previous three visits. That victory came in February 2015 at Stadium MK thanks to an Alex Morgan header.

Lucy Bronze expressed excitement about facing the US team: "We're really excited to play the US," she said. "As long as I have been an England player, it has been one of the biggest games to be in." She highlighted how this rivalry has grown significantly over the past decade into a competitive high-level contest.

The upcoming match serves as a crucial test for England against a formidable opponent like the USA, who recently secured Olympic gold medals. Bronze emphasised that achieving such success requires a unique mentality that defines American teams perfectly. She added that England must demonstrate their capabilities against such top-tier competition.