2024 USWNT Friendly: Scouting England

As the reigning Olympic gold medalists and top-ranked team in the world, the United States Women’s National Team reeled off three consecutive friendly victories over Iceland and Argentina. There are two remaining fixtures this year, against a pair of opponents that should provide a slightly sterner challenge than the previous foes. The first, England, has ascended to elite status in the footballing world and produced consistent results since claiming the 2022 UEFA European Championship, with the chance to lodge a resounding exhibition result. London’s historic Wembley Stadium, a 90,000-seat venue with a HATKO Hybridgrass Carpet surface, is set to host.

This is the 20^th all-time meeting between the two nations, with the USWNT holding a 12-5-2 advantage but failing in the most-recent match-up (1-2) in October of 2022. Ranked second internationally by FIFA, England booked a ticket over the summer to the 2025 UEFA European Championship with a second-place finish during qualifying in a difficult Group 3, drawing twice with Sweden (1-1, 0-0), grabbing two wins against Ireland (2-0, 2-1), and splitting results with France (1-2, 2-1). Recent friendly results include a defeat to Germany (3-4) and a tight result against South Africa (2-1).

The “unrivaled” Sarina Wiegman was appointed to the manager position in August of 2020 and stepped into the role in September of 2021, “succeeding Phil Neville at the end of his term” after “honoring her commitment to the Netherlands FA.” The 54-year-old former midfielder from The Hague earned 104 caps and served as captain for her birth nation before embarking on a coaching career that included stops at Ter Leede, ADO Den Haag, and the Oranje (Orange). Since taking over England, she has continued to add to her career legacy that includes two UEFA Women’s Championships, a Women’s Finalissima, and two runner-up finishes at the World Cup in 2019 and 2023.

For the friendlies against the USWNT and Switzerland, Wiegman named a 24-player roster that is missing several notable talents. The domestic Women’s Super League is home to 18 of the call-ups, while three are on the books at National Women’s Soccer League clubs. Lauren James, Ella Toone, Niamh Charles, and Lauren Hemp are out due to various injuries. Maya Le Tissier was initially included in squad but was removed due to a concussion and replaced by Lotte Wubben-Moy.

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GOALKEEPERS (3): Mary Earps (Paris Saint-Germain), Hannah Hampton (Chelsea), Anna Moorhouse (Orlando Pride)

DEFENDERS (9): Lucy Bronze (Chelsea), Alex Greenwood (Manchester City), Millie Bright (Chelsea), Leah Williamson (Arsenal), Jess Carter (NJ/NY Gotham FC), Esme Morgan (Washington Spirit), Lotte Wubben-Moy (Arsenal), Gabby George (Manchester United), Millie Turner (Manchester United)

MIDFIELDERS (7): Keira Walsh (Barcelona), Fran Kirby (Brighton & Hove Albion), Georgia Stanway (Bayern Munich), Jess Park (Manchester City), Grace Clinton (Manchester United), Laura Blindkilde Brown (Manchester City), Ruby Mace (Leicester City)

FORWARDS (5): Beth Mead (Arsenal), Chloe Kelly (Manchester City), Alessia Russo (Arsenal), Jessica Naz (Tottenham Hotspur), Aggie Beever-Jones (Chelsea)

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Under Wiegman, England are praised as becoming “tactical chameleons” with the variations and flexibility to line up in a few different formations, notably pulling out an unexpected 3-5-2 during tournament play. She uses a “team-first” style with a “clarity of tactics” and “zonal defending with three midfielders” that also “allows players to improvise and make mistakes.” The squad has been trained to handle pressure, with practice matches featuring intentionally incorrect refereeing decisions in order to cause a heightened emotional state. According to The Mastermind Site, the high-possession attack is generated from “progression out of the back” through the centre-backs that builds with “short, sharp passes,” while the defense has struggled to handle the transition and “drops into [the] mid-block quite early.”

Due to both injuries and the ravages of time, Mary Earps appears to be slowly losing her grip on the number-one role, replaced by relative-to-the-position youngster Hannah Hampton. The 24-year-old Chelsea goalkeeper is comfortable coming very far off of her line to claim the ball and has the athleticism to leap for crosses and beat out taller opposing strikers. Standing at five-foot-eight, she has the size and length to cover the goalmouth and displays solid reflexes on short-range opportunities, standing firm when facing an onrushing opponent. Her work in possession is beyond serviceable, playing line-drive passes at a variety of distances while under pressure, hitting deep kicks from restarts, and taking an active role to build out of the back.

The experienced Alex Greenwood is highly influential in possession with frequent distribution as “an exceptional progressor” but can also win her fair share of headers and “produces positive moments in the final third.” The 31-year-old Manchester City centre-back will often push forward into the midfield in order to serve as a safety valve for her pressured teammates and get the ball into the box. Leah Williamson was forced to miss the World Cup with an anterior cruciate ligament rupture but has regained her spot in the starting lineup, resuming her status as “the ultimate ball-playing defender” with a “delightful passing range” and “reliability under pressure.” She is reasonably strong in the air and utilizes her read of the opponent during the build-up and when blocking lanes, coming in from behind and stepping forward at the right moments. Imposing veteran Millie Bright could also feature in proceedings, describing herself as playing “on the front foot” and providing “power and a penchant for scoring spectacular volleys.” The five-foot-ten Chesterfield native “reads the game well,” is a constant danger on set pieces, dispenses “thunderous tackles,” and finds teammates with long-range efforts that will bypass multiple lines.

Artfully praised as “a stalwart of quiet calm,” Jess Carter has lined up in a variety of roles over her career due to her high level of athleticism, comfort on the ball, and ability to pick her moments for individual brilliance. The 27-year-old NJ/NY Gotham FC defender constantly presses forward and overlaps on the outside but can also move centrally in both phases of the game, best described as a somewhat reluctant fullback. One of the squad’s veterans, Chelsea’s Lucy Bronze is “a serial winner and versatile [talent]” with an attacking mindset guided by “pace, core strength, and composure in possession.” As a two-way player, she is strong in the air, plays a constant barrage of accurate passes, swarms the opponent’s lanes, and makes a crucial impact in the final third with delicate crosses.

Versatile and “brilliant” Barcelona midfielder Keira Walsh boasts excellent “passing quality, range, and vision” but is also a master manipulator of space, serving as a metronome with a high usage rate. She can find any teammate on the field and has just enough guile on the ball to avoid pressure, spinning and darting around both halves in order to buy time. One of the creative roles is occupied by Georgia Stanway of Bayern Munich, a dynamic option who racks up assists for club and country by leading the transition and “working well in tight [areas].” Her aggressive nature will produce some crushing yet sometimes dangerous challenges, but the regular highlight-reel finishing and long-distance shooting are more than enough to merit constant inclusion in the lineup. There is also Jess Park, who has been getting an extended run with the squad and made two starts during EURO qualifying, earning praise as a “skillful, creative player with an eye for goal.” Hailed as “the future for England and Manchester City,” the multi-faceted option is a pacy, offensive machine with a daring nature that challenges both centre-backs and fullbacks alike.

Beth Mead is slowly moving out of her peak years, but the Arsenal forward can still grab the spotlight with her “ability to create chances, penetrate opposing back lines, and receive between the lines,” with the utilization of intuitive timing. She is equally comfortable on the inside and the outside of the field, with darting runs that slalom toward the center or physical battles in the box. Despite wanting for playing time at Manchester City, Chloe Kelly has been a reliable option off of the bench for England and should pick up a start due to several absences, providing the potential danger for a long-range blast. The 26-year-old attacker is always looking to cut inside and hit a searching shot with either foot but can also hang on the wing and pick out teammates with accurate crosses.

Former University of North Carolina Tar Heel Alessia Russo is the main scoring threat at the top of the formation and has found the back of the net five times this season. The 25-year-old Arsenal forward “is a very good dribbler and provides dangerous passes,” while also shooting frequently and winning aerial duels with “excellent positioning inside of the box.” As expected of a player with her abilities, she is dangerous with both feet, reads the opponent quickly, and can finish at any distance when given a yard of space. Marc Lamberts praises her progression of possession, high level of distribution, and prolific nature, enabling her to slot into a variety of roles and match the manager’s tactical shifts.

After a few less taxing friendlies, the USWNT has the privilege of a true test against a program that spent the past decade ascending into the elite level. England has a talented squad and a wily, experienced manager, which should provide a compelling physical and tactical match-up. The added bonus of the fixture taking place at Wembley adds interest for both fan and neutral viewer, although crucial absences on both sides dampen proceedings.

The match is scheduled for Saturday, November 30^th at 12:20 p.m. Eastern, 9:20 a.m. Pacific. Viewing options include TNT, Universo, truTV, Max, Peacock, and Fubo TV (free trial).