Emma Hayes signing autographs ahead of the USA’s friendly against England at Wembley [Jayde Chamberlain/SPP]

“WE love her and you can’t have her back!”

That was the verdict of two die-hard USA fans on Camden’s own Emma Hayes at Wembley Stadium on Saturday night.

Joanna and Chrissy had travelled all the way from Seattle to cheer on Hayes and her Olympic champions in a high-profile friendly against reigning European title holders, England.

And as far as these American superfans were concerned, their newest national team head coach was the “best thing” to happen to US women’s soccer “in a good while”.

It was little wonder given that former Parliament Hill School pupil Hayes had delivered Olympic gold and a return to the top of the world rankings since taking the job in May.

England and Arsenal star Beth Mead escapes Gunners teammate Emily Fox [Jayde Chamberlain/SPP]

And at a press conference in Camden Town earlier in the week, Hayes had spoken of her further ambitions for the USA national team, including youth development and coaching.

“I’m a builder,” the 48-year-old had said. “I really enjoy putting an infrastructure together so that when I leave it still stays solid.”

The foundations for this weekend’s glitzy friendly between the world’s top two sides were laid in a pre-match show of fireworks, laser lights and thumping music in front of 78,346 fans – a record for an international women’s friendly.

USA fans Joanna and Chrissy from Seattle [Catherine Etoe]

Arsenal’s Beth Mead enjoyed some combative encounters with club-mate Emily Fox, while Alessia Russo led the line for England.

The USA saw a Lindsey Horan effort disallowed and a penalty shout chalked off after a VAR review, but this clash of the titans ultimately ended in a stalemate.

Black baseball jacketed Hayes, who faced a clamour for her autograph from the American supporters in the stands, departed, however, having given new faces a chance to taste high pressure opposition and with her players’ lack of goals her only regret.

Unbeaten in her 14 matches at the helm, former Curnock Street Estate resident Hayes made it 15 on Tuesday when her side overcame the Netherlands 2-1 in the USA’s last match of the year, thanks to a Veerie Buurman own-goal and 71st-minute winner from Lynn Williams.

MIXED BAG FOR SPURS

England boss Sarina Wiegman had vowed to experiment in this international window and among those players to benefit was Spurs veteran Jess Naz.

Winning her fourth cap, 24-year-old forward Naz impressed in the 75 minutes she was given against the USA and also got on the pitch in a 1-0 win over Switzerland on Tuesday.

“She is really quick,” Wiegman said at Wembley. “She worked really hard to understand the game plan and execute that too. She is on the way and developing quickly and that’s what we want.”

There was, however, misery for Tottenham forward Martha Thomas on Tuesday when Scotland saw their hopes of reaching Euro 2025 come to a crushing close.

Thomas featured in Friday’s goalless home tie with Finland in front of almost 9,000 supporters at Easter Road in Edinburgh despite having been ill in the run-up to the match.

The prolific striker was again in amongst the action in Helsinki, but Scotland were undone by a 2-0 loss to a Finland side that included Spurs’ own Eveliina Summanen and Olga Ahtinen.

Meanwhile, Swedes Amanda Nilden and Matilda Vinberg of Spurs and Arsenal’s Stina Blackstenius also saw their national team celebrate qualifying for next summer’s Euros with an 8-0 aggregate play-off win over Serbia.