Olympic champions U.S. and England settle for goalless draw at Wembley
England's women's team managed to secure a scoreless draw against the Olympic champions, the United States, during a friendly match held at Wembley Stadium on Saturday. This result halted the Americans' impressive nine-game winning streak in a contest featuring the top two teams in the world.
The top-ranked Americans, who remain unbeaten in their last 19 matches, challenged England's goalkeeper, Mary Earps, compelling her to execute several critical saves. Additionally, a goal from Lindsey Horan was disallowed early in the second half due to an offside call.
The American squad briefly celebrated again when the referee awarded a penalty, believing that England defender Alex Greenwood had committed a handball. However, this decision was reversed following a VAR review.
"It was a very intense match, played at the highest level," remarked England manager Sarina Wiegman in an interview with ITV. "We had our moments. As a team, we defended exceptionally well and could have applied more pressure. There are many lessons to take from this game. It was a highly intense encounter, and I hope everyone who watched appreciated our performance."
Wiegman's second-ranked England team, utilizing this match as part of their preparations for Euro 2025, where they will aim to defend their title, gradually found their rhythm. Beth Mead came close to scoring late in the game, sending a shot just wide of the post in one of their prime opportunities.
"It was challenging, as one would expect against the Olympic champions," Earps stated to ITV. "We were difficult to overcome, demonstrating resilience and unity as a group. There are aspects to improve upon, but I believe we can take pride in a 0-0 result."
Earps was the starting goalkeeper on Saturday, ahead of Hannah Hampton.
"We are well aware of how talented Earps is," Wiegman noted. "The competition between her and Hannah is very beneficial, and she performed admirably today."
The friendly match, attended by 78,346 spectators at Wembley, marked Emma Hayes's return to her home country after leaving Chelsea, where she spent 12 years, to coach the US team in May.
Both teams were without several key players, with the absence of Trinity Rodman, Sophia Smith, and Mallory Swanson—collectively known as "triple espresso"—being particularly noticeable for the US. England also missed the contributions of Lauren Hemp, Lauren James, Ella Toone, and Maya Le Tissier.
England's clean sheet, although achieved against a diminished American team, represents a significant morale boost, particularly in light of their recent struggles, which included a disappointing 4-3 loss to Germany at Wembley last month, characterized by poor defensive play, followed by a narrow 2-1 victory over South Africa just four days later.
"Facing England, especially after their defeat to Germany, we anticipated a strong response from them," Hayes remarked.
"However, we managed to keep the crowd subdued. I believe we controlled the match effectively. This game provided an opportunity to evaluate several younger, less experienced players under pressure and in a high-stakes environment.
"I am extremely proud of how we asserted ourselves during the match. The only area of concern was our execution in the final third. When we lack the quality of our key players, those who start or come off the bench must learn to identify the right moments and execute with the precision that was somewhat absent today. Overall, I am satisfied with our performance."
The United States will next travel to The Hague to face the Netherlands on Tuesday, while England is set to play a friendly against Euro 2025 hosts Switzerland at Bramall Lane in Sheffield on the same day.
SportsLigue