Beth Mead insists 2019 World Cup semi final loss has made England hungrier against USA

Beth Mead insists England's 2019 World Cup semi final defeat to the USA has spurred the team on to prove they can go toe to toe with the world's number one side.

The Lionesses face the USA at a sold out at Wembley on Friday evening.

England exited the 2019 World Cup at the semi final stage following an agonising 2-1 defeat to the USA, with Ellen White seeing a goal narrowly ruled out for offside and Steph Houghton missing a penalty. Alex Morgan famously celebrated her first half winner with her 'tea sipping' celebration.

"I think we said we're more coffee drinkers than tea so it's alright..." Mead quipped. "[It was a] tough result to take, we took it hard. Looking at it now it's made us more hungry and motivated to prove ourselves against a world class American team. We're looking forward to the challenge to see where we are."

The Lionesses are accustomed to racking up substantial score lines against lower ranked opposition during World Cup qualifying, hitting double figures against Latvia, North Macedonia and Luxembourg as they comfortably booked their place in Australia and New Zealand as group winners.

England manager Sarina Wiegman is excited by the prospect of her team testing themselves against world class opposition in the shape of the USA.

"We want those games and we want to see where we are," Wiegman added. "You need the best opponents in front of you because then you have to perform at the highest level, and that gives you the best information. We can play lower ranked teams and play really well, and score a lot of goals but that doesn't give you the picture that you need to prepare for the World Cup next year.

"A very big game that we want to play. It's another moment to see where we are. Of course we want to win the game but we want to see how we can do."