Lucy Bronze: “I think, as long as I’ve been an England player, it’s been one of the most exciting games to play in. We always play them in big occasions. There seems to be a rivalry that’s been, yeah, blossomed out of nowhere over the past decade.

“And we know, no matter what players show up, what players are on the pitch, who the manager is even, it’s such a competitive, high-level game. To win the Olympics, you have to be intense, have to be ruthless, you have to have that crazy mentality.

“I think that sums up the USA perfectly, so if we can go toe-to-toe with a team like that, see the mentality that it takes, learn from any mistakes that we make and learn from them, push ourselves and show what we’re capable of, what we can do against a top team like that, it’s going to put us in very good stead for the next six to eight months.”

Here’s how Hayes will line up on her England homecoming.

USA XI: Naeher; Fox, Girma, Sonnett, Krueger; Lavelle, Coffey, Horan; L. Williams, Thompson, Sears

Subs: Sams, Albert, Nighswonger, Shaw, Sentnor, Yohannes, Davidson, Malonson, Hershfelt, Haught, Gaetino, Ryan

Your confirmed Lionesses lineup to face Emma Hayes’ USA.

Alex Greenwood comes in for Millie Bright while Jess Naz gets the nod over Chloe Kelly.

England XI: Earps; Bronze, Williamson, Greenwood, Carter; Walsh, Stanway, Park; Mead, Russo, Naz

Subs: Morgan, Hampton, Kirby, Bright, Turner, Kelly, Clinton, Beever-Jones, George, Moorhouse, Mace, Blindkilde-Brown

Sarina Wiegman out on the Wembley pitch ahead of England vs USA.

We’re expecting team news in the next 20 minutes or so.

Emma Hayes revealed she felt “unwell” at the end of her time as Chelseaboss due to the stress of the job.

Sarina Wiegman had already highlighted where England need to improve long before Emma Hayes and the United States landed in London ahead of Saturday’s marquee clash at Wembley. While Hayes has enjoyed her return to her home town, pouring pints in Camden music venue she visited in her youth, and the USA have celebrated thanksgiving week, the Lionesses have been hard at work preparing for the visit of the Olympic champions. England have another chance to get it right. It surely can’t go as wrong as the defeat to Germany last month.

Three England stars have been announced as nominees for the women’s player of the year at the 2024 Fifa Best Awards: Lucy Bronze, Lauren Hemp and Keira Walsh.

Mary Earps – who has won the women’s goalkeeper of the year in the past two editions – is nominated for that same award again, while Beth Mead has been shortlisted for the inaugural ‘Marta’ award for the best goal of the season (and is named after famed Brazilian forward Marta, who coincidentally is also nominated).

Emma Hayes is among the nominees for coach of the year.

Ruby Mace insisted her first senior England call-up was a “dream come true” as she set her sights on trying to cement her position in the national team long term.

The Lionesses will take on the United States on Saturday and Switzerland next Tuesday in two home friendlies as preparations continue for next summer’s European Championship, where England look to defend their crown.

Sarina Wiegman handed first international call-ups to Leicestermidfielder Mace and Manchester City’s Laura Blindkilde Brown, who have both represented the Lionesses at youth levels.

She replaces Manchester United captain Maya Le Tissier, who was diagnosed with concussion after her side’s Women’s Super League loss to leaders Chelsea on Sunday.

England will first face former Chelsea boss Emma Hayes’ American Olympic champions at Wembley before taking on Switzerland at Bramall Lane next Tuesday.

England defender Lucy Bronze feels Olympic champions the United States will be the perfect test with less than a year to go until the Lionesses defend their European title in Switzerland.

The Americans’ visit to Wembley will also mark the first time former Chelsea manager Emma Hayes – now the USA head coach – will share a touchline with England’s Sarina Wiegman in a much-anticipated showdown between two of the most formidable bosses in the women’s game.

Bronze, who in July signed for Hayes’ former Women’s Super League side on a two-year deal, has noticed a steady rise in the rivalry between the top two teams in FIFA’s global rankings.