USWNT midfielder Lindsey Horan says the team is looking forward to competing against England at a “world-class” Wembley Stadium on Saturday evening.
These two nations are no strangers to the women’s game, having met for the first time in August 1985. Saturday will mark the 20th meeting between the two teams, and the U.S. has won 12, drawn two and lost five of those its previous 19 matches against England.
Horan, who currently plays his club football in Europe with French side Lyon, stopped short of saying there is a fierce rivalry between the two nations, but these games are always competitive and the caliber of game they want to play.
“I don’t know if rivalry is the right word,” he said at a press conference on Friday. “However, we face a superior opponent in the women’s game.
“There is no easy game, even after the last ground we played, the teams we played gave us a lot of difficulty in certain settings. Now we can play against England in a world-class stadium and a stadium legendary. It’s amazing.
“For us as players, we’re competitors and those are the games we thrive on. The pressure moments. It’s got to be one of the most entertaining games for people to watch.”
Saturday’s clash represents the new manager’s first Emma Hayes will face her home nation as head coach of the USWNT. She took over after his departure WSL side Chelsea at the end of last season and was successful in his first attempt as he guided them to Olympic glory in August.
Hayes echoed the sentiment that these are the games everyone wants to be in. After Saturday’s clash in London, his team will travel to face the Netherlands in The Hague next week.
“When you get the chance to lead the team out at Wembley against a top team in England, those are the games we want to be in, against top opposition,” Hayes added.
“For each and every one of us, that’s what we’re going to work for. Let’s hope it’s a fabulous game. I know both coaches will want that.
“We’ve had a good week of training and we’re pleased with the direction we’re going. We’re really looking forward to it.”
Having coached in England with Chelsea for more than a decade, Hayes not only knows most of the players who will line up in Sarina Wiegman’s squad on Saturday, he also knows the style of play of the lionesses
“There are (challenges) against every opponent,” Hayes added. “That’s the most interesting thing about international football, there are so many differences between teams.
“I’m very familiar with England and their style of play. As I said, I think it will be a top-level tactical game and there are a lot of quality players.
“I don’t think there’s anything that separates England from anything we’ve faced before. We faced Germany in the summer, Japan, Brazil. I don’t think it’s anything new for us.”
