England and USA play out stalemate at Wembley – result and reaction

"I've found my groove again" - Hayes delighted to be smiling once more.

England played to a 0-0 draw against the USA at Wembley, with Sarina Wiegman and Emma Hayes going head-to-head on the sidelines.

The Lionesses showed stronger defensive skills after last month's hectic 4-3 loss to Germany. However, with several important attacking players like Lauren Hemp, Lauren James, and Ella Toone missing from the lineup, the team had a tough time making offensive plays.

The USA had several opportunities to score, and Mary Earps had to make two impressive saves in the first half as England weathered some challenging moments. The visitors also had a penalty dismissed by VAR, as replays revealed that Yazmeen Ryan's shot struck Alex Greenwood in the chest.

Stay tuned for the newest updates from Wembley right here.

“Tactical Stalemate With USA: Clues For England's Future”

It was another evening of growth for England and coach Sarina Wiegman, although the only sparks of excitement from Emma Hayes’ United States side came from the pre-game light display at Wembley. This matchup between the European champions and the Olympic champions wasn't the thrilling spectacle many expected; instead, it highlighted how both teams were missing important attacking players and were treating this November friendly as an opportunity to try out new strategies. With just seven months to go before the Euros, goalkeeper Mary Earps acknowledged that England is still in the process of determining their style of play.

After giving up four goals in their last match at Wembley, Wiegman made adjustments to prevent a similar outcome. This showcased a more practical and “mature” England team, though some felt Wiegman might have been too defensive, as the Lionesses managed only one shot on target. "I can’t recall a single opportunity," Hayes mentioned. Earps noted that it had been a “difficult year” for England, and the Lionesses seemed determined to avoid another loss. They played cautiously, managing to contain the USA’s offense. "Following the result against Germany, we anticipated a response," Hayes added.

Jamie Braidwood, November 30, 2024, at 8:42 PM.

England And U.S. End In Goalless Wembley Draw

Sarina Wiegman and Emma Hayes' teams played to a draw in a highly anticipated match, with England and the United States finishing the friendly at Wembley without any goals.

This marked the first occasion that the two award-winning coaches, recognized as the best women’s coaches by FIFA, faced each other directly on the sidelines. Additionally, it had been over two years since the world’s top two women’s teams had played against each other at the London location.

Wiegman's team, the European champions, failed to register a single shot on target during the first half. Meanwhile, the opposing team had a goal ruled out for offside shortly after the start of the second half.

Hayes' Olympic gold medal winners had a penalty decision overturned after a VAR review. While England did show more promise in the second half, Wiegman's team was unable to break through the strong US defense.

Castle will be on November 30, 2024, at 10:30 PM.

Ian Wright has expressed his disappointment over England's inconsistent performances, following another uneven showing against the US.

"I can't recall the last time we played well for a full 90 minutes," he mentioned during an interview with ITV. "We find it difficult to deliver a truly solid performance."

"We seemed relieved not to let in any goals, especially considering past matches. It's frustrating because there are a few players we haven't had a chance to really observe."

Castle on November 30, 2024, at 9:40 PM.

"VAR Triumphs In Latest Match"

VAR often faces a lot of criticism from football fans when things don’t go as planned, but it’s fair to say that the technology performed well tonight.

Yazmeen Ryan sent a shot towards Alex Greenwood, but the referee ruled that the ball had hit Greenwood's arm.

Replays showed that things were quite different from what was originally thought, and after reviewing the situation on the field, the ruling was changed. If it weren't for VAR, that moment could have drastically changed the outcome of the match.

Castle30 posted on November 30, 2024, at 9:20 PM.

Ongoing Issues With The US

Castle Will on November 30, 2024, at 9:00 PM.

Is Earps Secure In Her Position?

Mary Earps made a significant impact on England’s top goalkeeper position tonight, stepping up time and again to keep the Lionesses safe and secure a clean sheet against a tough US team.

However, with Hannah Hampton also competing for a spot in the starting lineup, has Earps proven herself sufficient to stay ahead of the competition for the time being?

After the match, England manager Sarina Wiegman spoke to ITV, expressing, “I don’t believe she played poorly. We are well aware of her capabilities. The rivalry between her and Hannah is strong, and she certainly made an impact today.”

Earps went on to say, “It’s all about me being true to myself when I step onto the field. That’s my main focus. I want to play joyfully, and that’s how I plan to approach the game.”

Sure! Here’s a revised version: Castle30, November 30, 2024, at 8:40 PM.

Hayes Reflects On England's Homecoming

Emma Hayes expressed her joy at returning to Wembley, even though the outcome wasn't quite in favor of her team.

"When facing England, particularly after the loss to Germany, we anticipated that there would be a strong response to our previous performance," Hayes shared with ITV.

I had the opportunity to observe many younger and less experienced players. This is crucial as we are working towards a greater goal. I take pride in how we took control of the game. Overall, I’m happy with how we performed.

"We had a goal that didn’t count, and there was no way that was a penalty. If you looked at how often we moved into their end, we clearly did that more than they did. We're still in a phase of growth, and I feel really proud of how we performed. During the Olympics, I noticed a calmness in our game. I’m genuinely proud of our effort."

"You can embrace multiple identities at the same time. I take great pride in being an English woman while also being honored to coach in America."

Sure! Here’s a rewritten version of that section: "Castle30, November 30, 2024, 8:20 PM."

Earps Satisfied With Draw Result

England owed their hard-earned clean sheet against the US to Mary Earps, who put in an impressive performance.

"It was challenging, as you can imagine when facing the Olympic champions," the goalkeeper commented. "We made it difficult for them to score, and we stood firm and united as a team. While there are definitely areas we can improve upon, I believe we'll happily accept a 0-0 draw."

“I believe it’s been a challenging year, with some difficult outcomes. We understand our potential as a team; now we need to work on how to best play together. Friendlies give us the chance to try out different strategies. While tying with the Olympic champions is impressive, our goal is to win those matches.”

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Wembley opened its doors to 73,346 spectators today, setting a new world record for attendance at an international women's friendly match.

Castle30 posted on November 30, 2024, at 7:40 PM.

Sarina Wiegman shared her insights on the outcome of today’s match.

"It was a really intense match," she said to ITV. "The competition was at its peak. Their defense played with a lot of energy. We had a few good chances."

"As a team, we did a solid job of defending and had opportunities to put pressure on them. In the first half, we aimed to play our style, but our final passes weren't quite on target, which led to us losing possession too often. There are many lessons to take from this match. It was a high-energy game, and I hope that everyone who watched enjoyed seeing the team play."

"We've played four matches so far and are experimenting with different strategies. When we have the ball, we aim to use a 4-3-3 formation, and when we don't, we switch to a 4-4-2. Overall, I believe the team performed quite well, and at times, they effectively created numerical advantages on the flanks. Tactically, the team showed strong cohesion."

Castle will be posting on November 30, 2024, at 7:35 PM.