Wiegman eyeing victory over ´friend´ Hayes in United States clash

Sarina Wiegman is determined to get the better of “friend” Emma Hayes in England and United States’ blockbuster clash at Wembley on Saturday.

The Lionesses will go head-to-head with the USA in front of 85,000 at Wembley in a friendly that is former Chelsea boss Hayes’ first encounter against England.

A healthy rivalry has developed between the two national sides over the last decade, with an intriguing encounter expected this time around.

England won their most recent meeting with the USA in October 2022 (2-1), but not since their very first two games against them in 1985 and 1988 have they beaten the Stars and Stripes in back-to-back matches.

And the USA arrive at Wembley with confidence having won 12 of their 13 matches in all competitions under manager Hayes (D1), which included a gold medal triumph at the Paris Olympics.

The only managers to win as many as 13 of their first 14 games in charge of the USWNT are Vlatko Andonovski (14 in 2021) and Pia Sundhage (13 in 2008).

Wiegman explained she has a good friendship with Hayes, but revealed that relationship would be put to one side for 90 minutes on Saturday.

“It’s a fact,” Wiegman said of her friendship with Hayes. “I think with friends, you really want to beat your friends. Even more, maybe, than [managers who are] not your friends.

“Under Emma, their style of play is a little more patient, but there’s so much pace in their game.”

Heading to LDN pic.twitter.com/euHTybBDaE

— Lionesses (@Lionesses) November 28, 2024

Wiegman’s side have been far from their best recently, losing 4-3 to Germany last month at Wembley before beating South Africa four days later.

The USA, meanwhile, are unbeaten in each of their last 19 friendly matches (W17 D2), keeping a clean sheet in 15 of those.

However, they have lost their last two friendlies in Europe, against England in July 2022 and Spain in November 2022.

The Stars and Stripes have also struggled in games in England. They will face the Lionesses away from home for just the fourth time, with their only win in the previous three (L2) coming in February 2015 at Stadium MK thanks to an Alex Morgan header.

“We’re really excited to play the US,” Lucy Bronze, who joined Wiegman on media duties, said.

“As long as I have been an England player, it has been one of the biggest games to be in.

“It is a rivalry that has blossomed out of nowhere in the last decade. It’s such a competitive, high-level game.

“It is a good test because the US have just won the Olympic gold medal. To win [that], you have to have the crazy mentality that I think sums up the US perfectly.

“We have to show what we can do against a top team like that.”