The next generation of USWNT has proven its potential compared to England but still has work to do

With nine months to go before the FIFA World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, the reigning European and World Cup champions met at Wembley Stadium to test their skills and measure each other’s play. In front of 76,893 spectators, tonight’s celebration of women’s football saw a friendly that could well be a final. And by all reasonable guesses it could be the finals next year.

The highly decorated USWNT lost 2-1 to a Lioness squad at the top of their game as the Americans continue to work through a pivotal era of transition overseen by Vlatko Andonovski. Obviously the project is still ongoing.

Friday’s game was significant for a myriad of reasons, not just the incredible fanfare. For USA, this included a unique and rare opportunity to test their progress against one of the world’s best teams to see what’s working and most importantly, what’s not.

Despite the defeat, which feels historic given the lopsided history between the two, tonight’s hard-fought battle proved a major challenge. And while the shortcomings were glaring at times, USA displayed sparks of genuine brilliance, displaying a wide array of emerging talent and laying the foundation of a team whose cohesiveness could bring down any opposing roster in nine months’ time.

Sauerbrunn: “We just need time”

After the game, veteran central defender Becky Sauerbrunn told the media that this team just needs more time together to prepare for the World Cup: “Vlatko brought in a lot of new players and that’s why we build that experience as veterans with the new experience , and that takes time to gel.”

Nowhere was that handover more evident than with the second-half substitution of Megan Rapinoe, who was replaced by 17-year-old Alyssa Thompson on the wing. “I’m old enough to be her mom, not just a team mom. So that’s scary,” Rapinoe joked before handing a key role to a rising generation of talent, including Thompson.

Thompson also spoke to the media after the game and conveyed genuine excitement mixed with incredible nervousness, admitting she may or may not have tears in her eyes. Bringing talent like hers onto the field and embracing challenges and experiences like those Thompson accepted tonight is key to the future success of this team.

Faces of the next generation could be seen all over the field. Complementing Rapinoe in attack was Sophia Smith, arguably one of the team’s deadliest tools, rushing England’s back against strikers. She was joined by Ballon d’Or nominee Trinity Rodman, who appeared to have scored an incredible goal with a brilliant Rapinoe flick. But it was recalled by VAR and was high on a list of suspicious acting decisions of the night.

Elsewhere, 22-year-old Naomi Girma rose in defence, and ‘new generation talent’ amassed quality minutes as a starter or substitute on the pitch.

Sauerbrunn summarized that the generations would win the relationships and work out the details needed to win. “We are on the right track, it will just take a while.”

The potential is clear

This is a team with a relentless press that smothers resistance from the front. With players like Smith, Rodman and Rapinoe charging with every breath, space and ball, USA looked capable of winning games simply by forcing turnovers and choking the opposition. That’s exactly how the team finally scored their only goal.

Individual wins and class moments, from Smith to Rodman and Rose Lavelle to Lindsey Horan and Girma, played out down every line of the field. The skills of the young generation are just as clear as those of the “veterans” of different levels. It will only take time, as Sauerbrunn astutely observed, to piece these pieces together more coherently, gaining a rhythm across all lines of the field, identifying moments of brilliance and replicating their scenario.

As some players pointed out after the game, this was a loss that could have been a win. And this team has nine months to work through the details to change the moments that changed the fate of tonight.

There is work to be done

However, their performance was flawed and featured a cascade of hasty errors that England recklessly pounced on. The team lacked passing accuracy, which at times reached astounding levels. Placing balls in the last third prevented momentum that might otherwise have been goals.

In an aggressive, physical battle between the two parties, the USA committed some egregious fouls that left the team too vulnerable. Mature decision making and experience should eradicate that.

Some areas of the pitch have been strategically targeted for relentless attacks, and key players have been chosen for timely swarming.

But above every other factor is the lingering gaze of an ineffective midfield, which is in stubborn contrast to the talent available for the role. Something is stubbornly wrong here under Vlatko, and now a toothless midfield is piling up from recent friendlies. Whether that means putting Crystal Dunn in her natural position (ahem), debuting alternatives to Andi Sullivan on the 6, or adjusting the formation to create a double pivot, this area of ​​the pitch requires attention, experimentation, time and work together .

Speaking to players, Dunn, Girma and Rapinoe all shared similar sentiments of a team not showing full composure on the ball and needing to take their time and build confidence to be more effective.

The World Cup

There is enough time for preparation. And above all, every current problem is excellently solvable. This team has – and demonstrated it tonight at Wembley – the clear ability of their talents, the promise of the young generation and the leadership of a decorated core of veterans, all held together by an undiminished ability to work under pressure to win . There will be nine more months of trial and error.

The side now travel to Spain before hosting Germany in November, hungry for the lessons needed to compete for a third straight World Cup trophy in the world’s most competitive pool.