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SARINA WIEGMAN is determined to keep her friendship with Emma Hayes separate as she seeks to propel England to victory against the USA.
The two coaches are set to meet for the first time tomorrow as the Lionesses challenge the United States at Wembley.
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This match, scheduled for 5:20 pm this Saturday, will also mark Hayes’ first return to England as the USA’s head coach this year.
She accepted the coaching position in June after successfully concluding her time at Chelsea, where she claimed her seventh WSL title.
This match follows Hayes, 48, leading her US team to a gold medal at the Paris Olympics in August.
With her team undefeated in the last 11 matches since her appointment, Wiegman is eager to show her counterpart what international defeat feels like.
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The Lioness manager, 55, stated: “Emma and I used to work together, but now we are rivals, and I’m genuinely looking forward to that.”
“When it comes to friends, the desire to outdo them is perhaps even stronger than with non-friends.”
“We’re playing at Wembley, with about 85,000 fans expected, and with the USA’s recent Olympic triumph, it adds to the excitement.”
This will be the first encounter between the two national teams since England’s 2-1 victory two years ago in October.
Since that time, the Lionesses reached their first-ever World Cup final last summer, ultimately falling short with a 1-0 loss to Spain.
The recent performances of both teams have been noticeably different.
While Hayes’ squad celebrated victories against Iceland and Argentina with scores of 3-1 and 3-0 respectively, Wiegman’s team faced a narrow 4-3 defeat against Germany before bouncing back with a 2-1 win over South Africa.
Despite the USA holding a historical advantage in their head-to-head matchups, winning 12 out of 19 clashes against England, full-back Lucy Bronze highlights the respectful nature of the rivalry.
The Lioness, nominated for the FIFA 2024 Women’s Player of the Year award, expressed: “Even with the rivalry, there’s a significant level of respect.”
“This respect stems from competing at the highest level.”
“As an English team, we have always recognized the tremendous strides the US has made to reach their current level. That’s something we admire and draws inspiration from post our Euros victory.”
“While we compete against one another, we are also part of the same community, all striving to outdo each other.”
“In England vs. America matchups, there’s always a high degree of rivalry coupled with mutual respect.”
With over 83,000 supporters expected at Wembley, Hayes was asked for her thoughts on the state of women’s football in both countries today.
The USA coach asserts that women’s football in both nations merits equal acknowledgment.
Hayes noted: “Both nations are committed to women’s sports and are making tremendous strides for the women’s game.”
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“As always, we engage in discussions about the necessary improvements, but we should also celebrate the progress we’ve made.”
“The attendance of 80,000 fans at a significant event is not just a marker of progress but also indicates that the Lionesses are maintaining a formidable presence.”
“It’s about acknowledging both nations and their efforts, rather than creating divisions.”
