The match at Wembley is loaded with storylines, from individual battles to the lack of Triple Espresso and Hayes' homecoming

For soccer fans, Saturday is going to be a fun one. It's a clash of two of the top teams in the women's game. It's the U.S. women's national team vs England. The history between the two countries, the sporting rivalry, the talent on display – how could you not be excited?

And the match is one loaded with storylines. From individual battles to big picture ones, there are plenty of reasons to tune in. One is, of course, is Emma Hayes, whose return to England places her firmly in the spotlight. She won't be the only one, though. There are plenty of players with points to prove on the USWNT side, particularly due to a series of absences in the attacking part of the field.

For England, this match is big, too. The USWNT have long been at the top of the sport, and, given the Olympic success this summer, that's the case once again. The Lionesses will be eager to show that, despite missing that tournament, they are one of the world's elite, as well, as the road to the 2027 World Cup begins. This is only a friendly, but there is something is at stake here.

GOAL looks at the key storylines to watch when the U.S. takes on England at 12:20 pm. ET Saturday at Wembley.

Getty ImagesNo espresso, no problem?

No team can really claim to be better without Sophia Smith, Trinity Rodman and Mal Swanson. Those are three world-class players that would walk into any team in the world. Their absences – Hayes left the trio off the squad to allow them to recover from minor injuries – will be felt.

Can the U.S. survive against two good teams – England Saturday, then the Netherlands on Dec. 3 – without Triple Espresso? We'll find out.

There's no shortage of talented attackers in this pool, even without those three. Jaedyn Shaw and Alyssa Thompson are rising stars with legitimate tournament experience already. Lynn Williams is one of the most senior players in the squad altogether. Emma Sears and Yazmeen Ryan both made strong first impressions, while Ally Sentnor, the only newcomer in this camp, has substantial youth national team experience.

Can they replace Triple Espresso? Probably not directly, but can they be good enough to beat England? That's the question on everyone's mind as each of those players looks to prove why they should get their own moments in the attacking spotlight.

AdvertisementGettyAlyssa Naeher's swansong

How do you say goodbye to a legend? Well, for starters, it's never easy. That feels clear heading into these final matches of Alyssa Naeher's USWNT career. Naeher announced last week that she will be retiring from international soccer after these two matches.

In the big picture of it all, it'll be tough to see Naeher go. She is a legitimate goalkeeping superstar, even still at age 36. She proved it again this summer, as she had dozens of other times before. Naeher is very much one of those players that fans won't fully appreciate until she's gone.

In this final camp, though, there's the smaller picture to look at, too. She'll face challenges against two very good teams, both of whom will be looking to spoil her swansong. Naeher, of course, will want to go out on a win. Actually doing so will require a whole lot to go right in front of her.

The two veteran goalkeepers who are joining Naeher lack USWNT experience. Phallon Tullis-Joyce, who plays in England for Manchester United, has yet to earn a cap. Mandy Haught of the Utah Royals has just one. There's no goalkeeping controversy or debate here; these games are all about Naeher.

Her replacement will be sorted out in the months to come, but it's clear that that isn't what this camp is about. Instead, it's about sending off a legendary player the right way

Getty ImagesNWSL vs WSL

No, the USWNT's clash with England isn't a pure NWSL-WSL All-Star Game. But there are numerous players on both sides that play in the other country's league, as well as others all over the world.

This seems like one of those fun crossovers where players get a chance to show how they fare against the very best.

Take, say, Naomi Girma. The USWNT defender is arguably among the best in the world, but there are those who say that not testing herself against top European stars on the club level harms her case. How will she handle running into Beth Mead, Chloe Kelly or Alessia Russo? They're all legitimate stars, so that should provide a good measure of where Girma stands.

There will be battles like that all over the field. How will Emily Fox's experience in England help her in this match? How will some of the USWNT's young midfielders compete against England's best? Can a veteran England defense keep up with some of the NWSL's finest young stars?

It'll be fun to watch. It's a measuring stick, not just of these two national teams, but to some degree, each of the countries' top leagues.

USA TodayWelcome, Lily Yohannes

We've seen her involved before, but this time, she's here to stay. Lily Yohannes is officially a USWNT player.

Her one-time switch was a huge win for the USWNT, who have brought in one of the finest young talents in the sport. The world, of course, saw that in June when, at just 16, Yohannes scored against South Korea to become the third-youngest goalscorer in USWNT history. Since then, the U.S. had waited for Yohannes to commit despite interest from their second opponent in this camp, the Netherlands.

They got their wish, and Yohannes is fully locked in.

Now, the real fun begins. How will Hayes use her? Does she ease her in this camp? These will be tough games, and Yohannes is just 17. How will she handle it all?

Still, the Yohannes story isn't about today, it's about the next decade, or more, of her career. She will be something to watch for years to come.