The gap between expectation and reality can be a big one and the tight chess match between England and the United States did not quite provide the action to match the clash-of-the-titans narrative that had been set up before the game.
In front of 78,346 fans eager to see who would come away from the showpiece friendly in better shape – the European champions, led by Sarina Wiegman, or the Olympic gold medallists, led by the London native Emma Hayes – the answer was neither.
“It was a very intense game. Of course, we know the USA is very dynamic, explosive and wanting to go forward,” said Wiegman. “We defended very strongly as a team and found solutions to their overloads out wide well.”
Hayes said: “You’ve got two top teams. Sarina’s an amazing coach. It was a good tactical match-up. I just enjoy coaching, I live in football matches, to be honest with you.”
Hayes had been jovial before kick-off, declaring: “Life is so short, I want to have a good time.”
The football did not quite deliver the good vibes the hyped-up crowd had been hoping for. After lasers, fireworks, smoke and thundering music, it was all a little bit flat, an intricate battle of strategy instead of a barnstormer.
The visiting team were the relatively more organised and efficient side when on the ball in the first half, and their press stifled England when off it, limiting them to two touches in the area in the first half to the USA’s 15 in England’s. But Wiegman’s side weren’t particularly poor either.
Jess Naz, making her third appearance for the Lionesses, was excellent ahead of Lucy Bronze on the right, tracking back to cover when the Chelsea full-back would go on a marauding run and causing problems for the USA at the back, although the quality of the final ball eluded her.
With the action on the pitch lacking in bite, attention was easily drawn to the touchline, where arguably the two best managers in women’s football were at work, gesticulating periodically, Hayes sometimes pausing with arms crossed, Wiegman with them clasped behind her back.
There was a bit more energy after the restart, the crowd more vocal, willing the game poised on a knife-edge to tip one way or the other. Within four minutes, the net was bulging, the USA captain, Lindsey Horan, having poked in from close range, but the flag was up for offside. Hayes punched the air in glee before quickly doing so again in frustration.
England were brighter too, there was more control and patience in possession. It was reflected in the stats, with the Lionesses going from two touches in the opposition box to 10 in the space of the next 20 minutes. “We want to go for a win. They wanted to go for a win too,” said Wiegman.
It was almost a disaster for the home side just past the hour mark, though, when Alex Greenwood was adjudged to have handled the ball in the area in blocking Yazmeen Ryan’s shot. But replays showed the ball clearly came off the Manchester City defender’s chest and the video assistant referee stepped in. Lina Lehtovaara overturned her decision after viewing the pitchside monitor.
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The arrival of Korbin Albert in place of Alyssa Thompson prompted the loudest reaction from the crowd in the first 73 minutes, boos ringing out for the player who had been forced to apologise for posting homophobic content on social media in March.
“Of course, I understand the booing, and everybody is entitled to their opinions on it, without doubt,” said Hayes. “My job is not to weigh in on the debate. I’m a football coach. My job is to produce a football team. I’ve sat down with her, I’ve had several conversations with her in and around these things to make sure that the self-development piece is there.”
Experience arrived for England in the form of Fran Kirby and the Euros match-winner, Chloe Kelly, but the home team struggled to find gaps in a visiting backline marshalled by the exceptional centre-half Naomi Girma.
It was the USA who looked the more likely to take the lead in the closing stages, but the stalemate was a fair result. Against top opposition, Hayes and Wiegman will have learned a lot and there is work to do. For Wiegman, that will have to be done quickly, with Nations League in the new year and England’s defence of their European title in the summer.
