England’s Wiegman and USA coach agree on Lionesses’ World Cup chances

Sarina Wiegman’s European Champions once again lit up Wembley and proved that the Lionesses are ready to take on the best on the planet. But Wiegman, despite beating the defending World Cup winners, insisted England would only be the best team in the world when they have won the trophy themselves.

Lauren Hemp’s opener and Georgia Stanway’s penalty were enough to lay down a marker ahead of the next summer tournament. And on a night when modern technology made three crucial interventions, they showed that the chasm which used to exist between the sport on the respective sides of the Atlantic now is just the width of the VAR offside crosshairs. It left USA coach Vlatko Andonovski to back them as the main contenders for their World Cup crown.

“I absolutely believe that,” he said. “They have an incredible squad and the players that if you give them the space can make a difference. I wouldn’t mind playing them in the final again.”

Wiegman admitted that lifting the ultimate crown is always on her mind. “The target is there all the time!” she said. “Whatever happens we know this is just a starting point for the World Cup, but it shows you are at a very high level. England can beat anyone.”

However, were it not for the triple intervention of a VAR that Wiegman described as “honest” rather than “lucky”, it could have been a very different homecoming for the 77,893 fans. England got off to the perfect start when makeshift no. 9 Lauren Hemp took advantage of a defensive howler to bundle in Beth Mead’s early cross.

However, Lindsey Horan caught Georgia Stanway in possession and Sophia Smith turned sharply and fired low past Mary Earps. Then, almost out of nowhere, VAR played its first card. Around 90 seconds had elapsed before German referee Riem Hussein was asked to stop play and look again at a challenge by Hailie Mace on Lucy Bronze.

Replays showed the USA substitute’s boot had connected with the England defender’s chin, not the ball, and cool as you like, Stanway converted from the spot. More controversially, the best move of the night which ended with Trinity Rodman slamming the ball into the England net just before half-time was ruled out by the tightest of offside decisions earlier in the move.

The technology came into its own, though, late in the game when Hussein inexplicably pointed to the spot after Rose Lavelle’s shot clearly hit Hemp’s backside rather than her arm. Thankfully, it turns out VAR can tell that part of her anatomy from her elbow and sheepishly the decision was overturned.