The USWNT looks loaded and good to go for their friendly against England. On Saturday night, these two formidable sides will be locking horns against each other for what is touted to be more than just a friendly. Then again, with stakes high, doubts are being circled around the American ladies, who seem to be missing their essence, Tripple Espresso. However, Ali Krieger insists Emma Hayes‘ side will do everything in their ‘power‘ to win against Lionessess.

The bold revelation was made in one of the latest podcast episodes of ESPN Futbol W. During one of the segments, Ali Krieger was asked to share her prediction for the England vs. USWNT match. Without any hesitation, the former defender backed her beloved nation to win the fixture, even though the magical trio of Trinity Rodman, Sophia Smith, and Mallory Swanson isn’t present in the squad.

“Yeah, I think the US. Despite the fact that Tripple Espresso is not going to be present, I do still think that the depth that we have with these younger players has been incredible, and they’ve really proven themselves, that they’re ambitious and willing to take on their task,” explained the former Gotham FC star. Continuing on whether she had any particular scoreline in mind, she added, “Therefore, they wanna prove themselves and get into the squad. They’ll do everything they can in their power that will be 0-2 for me. A confident win, also wanting to impress Emma back at her  home in England.” 

Looks like the USWNT icon has put all of her wagers on the future of the Stars and Stripes ft. ladies, that too, confidently, despite the presence of the star forward line that was tremendous during the recent 2024 Paris Olympics. However, this time, Hayes decided to rest her forward line for a rather long-term reason.

The 48-year-old insisted that even though either of the three forwards would have loved to play against England and the Netherlands, she wanted to keep them safe over the potential risk of burning them out. “When you’re in the back end of a season, you’ve played a lot. Your body’s tired, your mind’s tired. That’s where, you know, sometimes it can become risky,” explained Hayes in the presser, stressing the importance of rest.

Had Rodman, Smith, and Swanson been present for these clashes, then it would have been no less than the icing on the cake. Then again, the rival boss remains unfazed by either of the star’s absences.

England’s Sarina Wiegman expecting a ‘competitive game’ vs Emma Hayes’ USWNT 

One would think that the absence of Tripple Espresso would see England take a significant advantage against the USWNT, let alone the fact that the presence of these stars would have also made the clash interesting. However, in Sarina Wiegman’s eyes, she still sees the American ladies as a strong side. “I think the USA is still very, very top level,” she stated. 

“They miss some players—so do we. It’s part of football… Other players get opportunities to play. I think we’ll see a very competitive game,” insisted Wiegman. Even though both teams may feature slightly altered lineups, the quality on the field guarantees an exhilarating match. With Wiegman and Emma Hayes facing off as opposing coaches for the first time, fans can anticipate witnessing an unprecedented showcase of talent in women’s football today!