Girma and Mary Earps were stand-out performers at Wembley, as Hayes' U.S. team came to town and put their hosts to the test

England's meeting with the United States at Wembley on Saturday wasn't a blockbuster, end-to-end thriller that many might've imagined when this fixture was first announced, but it was certainly a thought-provoking encounter. As the European champions met the Olympic champions, there were no goals, yet there was plenty to talk about.

The 0-0 scoreline contrasted with the 4-3 defeat the Lionesses suffered to Germany last time they were here, with defensive improvements certainly on show, even if the USWNT's first-choice attack wasn't available. On the other side of the coin though, there was little for the 78,346 inside the ground to get really excited about.

On the one hand, there was clear progress from Sarina Wiegman's side, and reasons for her to be admittedly pleased with the team's display. Yet, in the absences of names like Lauren Hemp, Lauren James and Ella Toone, there was concern that others couldn't step up and deliver an attacking spark to test a U.S. defense that wasn't without its weaknesses.

USWNT boss Emma Hayes, meanwhile, was understandably frustrated that her team couldn't get the win, because they created the chances to do so. She believed they were better across the whole game and few would disagree with that assessment, though it was hard for her to be too disappointed overall given her absences in attack – with no Sophia Smith, no Trinity Rodman and no Mallory Swanson.

Yes, their replacements lacked cutting edge, but most of them also lacked experience – either of the big stage or of playing with those around them. What will surely please Hayes in particular was how quiet the England attack was. Alyssa Naeher made just one save, and a very comfortable one at that, with the Lionesses unable to create much at all in a game that the U.S. had more control of.

With three years until the USWNT next play a major tournament, there's a great foundation to build on. For England, meanwhile, there are only a few months until their European title defense begins. They've made progress defensively here, and now the aim will be to add the attacking element to that moving forward.

GOAL breaks down the winners and losers from Wembley Stadium.

Getty Images SportLOSER: The hype

Perhaps it was always going to be difficult for this game to live up to the hype. Emma Hayes, back in England for the first time since taking the USWNT job, at a stadium where she enjoyed so many successes with Chelsea, and facing the nation of her birth? There was so much excitement about her return, particularly after the U.S. won Olympic gold this summer.

The first hit to the hype came when the squads came out. The USWNT were to be without Smith, Rodman and Swanson, their Triple Espresso attack which fired them to that Olympic title, while England star Hemp underwent knee surgery just last week. Her absence was added to several that were already known, such as James and Toone.

That lack of star attacking power was evident throughout the evening. Instead of plenty of wonderful play in the final third that got the fans off their seats, it was the likes of Mary Earps and Naomi Girma who showcased the best of their abilities in defense. It was an interesting game for several reasons, with England improving at the back after that reckless game against Germany last month, while Hayes got a look at some new faces, but it was not the blockbuster many expected when it was first announced.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportWINNER: Mary Earps

"I think it's been a tough year," was Earps' honest assessment of 2024 when speaking to ITV after this match. She was part of the Manchester United side that underwhelmed in the Women's Super League in the first half of the year, had to endure the noise of a transfer saga in the summer and started life at Paris Saint-Germain with some bumps in the road, including an exit in the qualifying stage of the Women's Champions League.

On Saturday, though, she reminded a packed Wembley of her remarkable quality. With England under the cosh at times in the first half, she stepped up on numerous occasions to make some big saves and keep the Lionesses in the game, eventually holding a clean sheet that gave them a creditable draw against the Olympic champions.

Also in Earps' tough year has been some lost ground in the battle to be England No.1, ahead of next summer's European Championships. However, she appeared to extend her lead over Hannah Hampton in that race in the last window, and has only added to that with this performance.

Getty Images SportLOSER: USWNT attack

There was no Triple Espresso and the game really felt very flat, as a result. It was a game that could have really used that dose of caffeine, huh?

Without Swanson, Rodman and Smith, Hayes turned to Alyssa Thompson, Emma Sears and Lynn Williams. None really furthered their case. Thompson had a few moments, but couldn't beat England star Lucy Bronze often enough. Sears seemed a bit overawed by the almost 80,000 at Wembley, which is fair given her inexperience. Williams, finally, just didn't quite create danger, which, as the veteran in the group, she was put out there to do.

It just further proved that Triple Espresso is irreplaceable. The trio on the field on Saturday were never going to do what Smith, Rodman and Swanson could do, but they never really got close enough to make England uncomfortable. It's unfortunate, too, because it felt like the game was there for the taking, if one or two attacking sequences really went a different way.

Getty Images SportWINNER: Leah Williamson

When England faced Germany at Wembley last month, they were all over the shop at the back – and Williamson was part of that. The Arsenal star struggled immensely in a performance that encapsulated some tough recent form, and raised questions over whether Alex Greenwood should've taken her place in the starting line-up instead.

But, as Williamson returned to the home of football on Saturday, she looked so much like her old self. Since the Germany game, she's improved at club level and she brought that confidence to the table on this occasion, too. Her passing was good, she popped up with several key interventions in her box and was part of a much stronger Lionesses back line. The entire performance of the defense was down to several key performers, but there's no doubt it's much improved when Williamson is, too.