England 0-0 USA
WEMBLEY – The Camden accent was not out of place but plenty else about Emma Hayes’ homecoming had the potential to unsettle England. As they held the USA to a stalemate they will look back on this as a much improved defensive display but one which did not answer looming questions over their creativity.
Back on familiar turf, Hayes set the tone with a pair of colourful shoes and a near-slip into singing her own national anthem. Her tenure is not only poised to be a fascinating one because it is her first in international management, having left Chelsea after 12 glittering years.
The impact has been immediate, guiding her adopted nation to Olympic gold in Paris this summer, and instilling a fresh willingness to gamble on youth – partly imposed by the four-time world champions falling so desperately short at the 2023 World Cup.
Yet missing Sophia Smith and experimenting with a host of youngsters, there was little sign of the tepidness which at times plagued England in front of an improved crowd of 78,346.
To lean on an Americanism, Hayes’ early priority has been building up the “roster”, hoping Emma Sears (23), Jaedyn Shaw and Alyssa Thompson (both 20) will be key to her regime for years to come, while others are departing – Alyssa Naeher made her penultimate appearance in goal before hanging up her gloves. The 17-year-old Lily Yohannes earned a place on the bench having recently declared her allegiance post tug-of-war with the Netherlands.
If England do not successfully defend their European crown next summer, the accusation levelled at them will be that they did not use their friendlies and dead rubber ties effectively enough to try out new personnel. There were glimpses of tinkering here but Jesses Naz and Park struggled to penetrate a well-organised US unit.
The major plus for the Lionesses was a rare, resiliently won clean sheet – their first of the calendar year. Mary Earps and Lucy Bronze impressed, the latter tested in a series of 1v1s with Thompson.
Earps, making her second consecutive start after losing the No 1 shirt to Hannah Hampton due to a combination of a hip injury and form, thwarted Thompson and Casey Krueger from close range and was England’s player of the match.
Sarina Wiegman’s other remaining conundrum is how her side, used to having so much more of the ball, should cater for this calibre of opponent. It is still hard to know exactly what the midfield will look like at Euro 2025, finishing up with Fran Kirby on the pitch after England had lacked cohesion there all evening.
These are the world’s two highest ranked teams but there were moments when the hosts looked overawed; as the US peppered Earps’ goal, danger could have been averted had the Lionesses been prepared to press higher and take the initiative. Alex Greenwood was rightly given her opportunity at left-back, but Beth Mead did just as much defensively down that side.
It is little wonder, though, that England are hesitant to be bolder given recent history. The alarm bells from the kamikaze defensive display in the 4-3 defeat to Germany here last month were still ringing.
Even the prospect of facing the Olympic champions was another chastening reality check; Team GB did not make it to that tournament at all courtesy of England’s underwhelming performance in the Nations League.
There were near misses – Lindsey Horan ruled offside after poking the ball past Earps and a nonsense penalty given against Greenwood for handball overturned by VAR. This week Hayes and her players spent Thanksgiving in London but perhaps it was England who will have come away counting their blessings, satisfied but with plenty to reflect on as they wrap up 2024 against Switzerland at Bramall Lane on Tuesday.
Hayes addresses Albert boos
Hayes insisted fans who booed Korbin Albert were “entitled to their opinion” as supporters voiced their anger following the controversial USA midfielder’s anti-LGBT+ comments.
Albert has previously come under fire for sharing a video on social media from a Christian preacher describing being gay and “feeling transgender” as wrong.
After the 21-year-old was jeered as she came on at Wembley, Hayes said: “Of course I understand the booing and everybody is entitled to their opinions on it without doubt. My job is not to weigh in on the debate. I’m a football coach.
“My job is to produce a football team and Korbin being a player within that, like I always do, I’ve sat down with her, I’ve had several conversations with her in and around these things to make sure that self development piece is there.
“But there have been opportunities for Korbin to be interviewed about this post game and maybe people haven’t asked the questions, even at the Olympics.”
Both captains wore rainbow armbands in support of Stonewall’s Rainbow Laces campaign, which is taking place this weekend.
“No one’s going to enjoy that [being booed],” Hayes added.
“But you have to appreciate that there is a community that support our team and everybody wants to feel that, I know for me, we create an environment that’s not just inclusive, respectful and tolerant, which I do do, but I cannot control what happens outside our environment.
“I’m sure when the moment comes and Korbin is asked about it, then it’s for her to address, not me. But I totally appreciate the fans doing that, and they’re entitled to do that.”
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