ENGLAND defender Lucy Bronze feels that Olympic champions the United States will be the perfect test with less than a year to go until the Lionesses defend their European title in Switzerland.

The Americans’ visit to Wembley will also mark the first time former Chelsea manager Emma Hayes — now the US head coach — will share a touchline with England’s Sarina Wiegman in a much-anticipated showdown between two of the most formidable bosses in the women’s game.

Bronze, who in July signed for Hayes’s former Women’s Super League side on a two-year deal, has noticed a steady rise in the rivalry between the top two teams in Fifa’s global rankings.