SheBelieves Cup, USWNT vs England on March 5: match preview, head-to-head and broadcast listings

Topics: SheBelieves Cup, USWNT, Vlatko Andonovski, Alyssa Naeher, Alex Morgan, Christen Press, England, Phil Neville, Beth England, Ellen White, Millie Bright, Exploria Stadium, 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup, 2020 SheBelieves Cup

In our match preview informing you where and how to watch the SheBelieves Cup’s match between the USWNT and England, we compare both teams going into the tournament, analyze their head-to-head record and point out players to watch.

The USWNT will open-up SheBelieves Cup play against cross-Atlantic foe England on March 5 in what is expected to be the sequel of their eventful 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup semifinal match.

What has evolved into one of the biggest rivalries in women’s football at the international level will take place at Exploria Stadium in Orlando, Fla. Things to look out for in this fixture are player quality, managerial tactics, goals and celebrations – too bad that Alex Morgan will not be present.

Vlatko Andonovski decided to stick with the same 20 players who featured at the Concacaf Women’s Olympic Qualifying tournament with the addition of Tierna Davidson, Mallory Pugh and Casey Short. That time out, the Stars and Stripes went on to win all five matches scoring 25 goals without conceding a single one. These five wins extended the USWNT’s win streak to 28 games dating back to January 2019.

The World Champions missed out on SheBelieves Cup glory last year drawing two games to England and Japan. And it was the Lionesses who lifted the cup at the Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Fla, just 88 miles away from where these two football giants will meet on Thursday.

Phil Neville and the Lionesses will be looking for revenge from that World Cup semifinal loss. The plan is to end the USA’s 45-match unbeaten run on their home soil and reclaim the title. The English manager has done a solid job in terms of rejuvenating his squad, bringing the average age of his team from 27.7 to 25.7 since France 2019. The current SheBelieves Cup titleholders will look to shock the world with their surprisingly young squad.

As you can tell, the competition between these two sides is as heated as it could ever be, and the winning side will have well-deserved bragging rights.

USWNT vs England: head-to-head

The rivalry between the US and England has reached new levels, especially after that close semifinal match, which saw the Stars and Stripes advance to the WWC final. A combination of Morgan’s teacup celebration, Ellen White’s disallowed goal, Alyssa Naeher’s penalty save and Millie Bright’s red card, further fueled this rivalry to what it is today.

Nonetheless, the Lionesses’ draw with the USWNT at the SheBelieves Cup last year ultimately helped the visitors to lift the cup.

The USWNT has been the most dominant side of the two since the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup, winning three and drawing and losing one. The Americans dominate the all-time record 11 wins, four losses and two draws.

USWNT vs England: players to watch

USWNT - Christen Press

Christen Press surely impressed spectators at the Concacaf Women’s Olympic Qualifying tournament being awarded the Scotiabank Golden Ball for being the most valuable player in the competition. Press scored five goals and looked better than ever across the five games. Remember that the American forward scored the first goal of the match against England last summer and will look to strike again.

England – Bethany England

Beth Mead and Lucy Bronze’s absences due to injury leave Bethany England as the player to watch for the Lionesses. England has only represented her national team five times scoring two goals. It will be interesting to see how Neville incorporates Chelsea’s ace who has been on an FA Women’s Super League scoring rampage scoring 12 goals in 9 matches.