England were held to a goalless draw against Portugal in their only friendly heading into 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
Sarina Wiegman’s Lionesses dominated throughout but lacked quality up front as Rachel Daly wasted a fifth minute header, before she was substituted at half-time.
Substitute, Alessia Russo went close on several occasions in the second half but failed to find that clinical touch, with her best chance falling in the 77th minute as she fired wide from close-range as she met Chloe Kelly’s low cross.
England now will kick off their World Cup campaign against Haiti in Group D at 10:30am UK Time on Saturday 22 July, whilst Portugal meet Netherlands 22 hours later at 8:30am BST on Sunday 23 July.
Dominant but Wasteful
35 days since the Women’s Super League season concluded, England showed little signs of rustiness as they quickly asserted control upon Portugal, as Daly went close with a fifth minute header from Lauren Hemp’s cross which bounced wide of the bottom-right corner.
Ella Toone fired wide in the 18th minute after bravely shooting from just outside of the box as England continued to dominate, albeit with little end product against a resilient Portuguese defence as Daly bicycle-kicked a 34th minute shot over the bar from a knockdown header.
Georgia Stanway almost gave England the lead just on the strike of half-time but she could only flick Hemp’s cross onto the crossbar, in what was a positive but scrappy first-half display for the hosts.
Portugal meanwhile failed to create much attacking impact aside from a couple of scrappy free-kicks which amounted to nothing, courtesy of solid defending.
Wiegman responded with three half-time substitutes as Alex Greenwood, Toone and Daly were subbed for Niamh Charles, Kelly and Russo, in hope of sparking more life into England’s attack.
Wiegman’s gamble almost paid dividends in the 53rd minute as Hemp headed wide from a corner but Kelly and Russo both saw shots denied in the following minutes, of which their opportunities were created by through balls from James into the box.
Russo’s shot though was blocked by Ana Borges which led to a corner kick from which Bronze nodded wide onto the left post.
Russo again wasted a huge chance in the 61st minute as she met Kelly’s side-pass but smashed her shot wide of the bottom-right corner.
England continued to dominate the game amidst robust Portuguese defending, as Russo flicked a close-range shot from Laura Coombs’ 71st minute cross into Ines Pereira’s arms.
Further frustration hit Russo in the 77th minute as Kelly curled in a low cross from the right flank but the 24 year-old could only smash her shot wide from close-range, before she again dragged a shot wide of the right corner less than a minute later.
Russo and Kelly combined again in the 85th minute as the latter whipped in a cross, yet Russo could only inaccurately hit her shot on the bounce and Pereira made a comfortable save of the looping ball.
Portugal eventually clung on to deny England victory as both teams now head to the Women’s World Cup off the back of a stalemate.
What’s Next?
England will head Down Under on 5 July to begin acclimatising to their environment and continue World Cup preparation, ahead of their Group D opener on 22 July against Haiti at 10:30am UK Time.
Portugal meanwhile commence their World Cup campaign in Group E against Netherlands on 23 July at 9:30am CET.
Teams
England: Mary Earps, Lucy Bronze, Esme Morgan, Jess Carter, Alex Greenwood (Charles 45′), Georgia Stanway (Coombs 65′), Keira Walsh (Zelem 65′), Ella Toone (Kelly 45′), Lauren James, Rachel Daly (Russo 45′), Lauren Hemp (Robinson 81′)
Substitutes: Hannah Hampton, Ellie Roebuck, Niamh Charles, Lotte Wubben-Moy, Laura Coombs, Chloe Kelly, Bethany England, Katie Zelem, Katie Robinson, Alessia Russo, Maya Le Tissier, Lucy Staniforth
Portugal: Ines Pereira, Catarina Amado (Alves 81′), Carole Costa, Diana Gomes, Ana Borges, Tatiana Pinto, Dolores Silva (Jacinto 62′), Andreia Norton (Mendes 81′), Jessica Silva, Kika Nazareth (Capeta 50′), Diana Silva (Encarnacao 62′)
Substitutes: Patricia Morais, Rute Costa, Lucia Alves, Silvia Rebelo, Joana Marchao, Andreia Jacinto, Ana Rute, Fatima Pinto, Ana Seica, Carolina Mendes, Ana Capeta, Telma Encarnacao, Alicia Correia
Referee: Esther Staubli (Switzerland)
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