England Women Draw Portugal
Image credits: Sky Sports
England women's football team began their Women's Nations League campaign with a disappointing 1-1 draw against Portugal, sparking concerns about their form ahead of Euro 2025. The team, led by manager Sarina Wiegman, has won only two of their last six matches, and this latest result has raised questions about their ability to defend their European title. Alessia Russo gave England an early lead, scoring in the 15th minute, but Portugal substitute Kika Nazareth equalized in the second half, capitalizing on a period of pressure from the hosts.
England's performance was marked by a strong start, with Russo's goal capping off a dominant first half. However, they failed to capitalize on their lead and allowed Portugal back into the game. The introduction of Nazareth in the second half proved to be a turning point, as she scored the equalizing goal and changed the momentum of the game. England's manager, Wiegman, insisted that the team is "moving forwards" and that she is "not concerned" about their form, but defender Millie Bright admitted that there is "lots to work on" and that the team needs to be more ruthless in front of goal.
The match was marked by the absence of several key England players, including Georgia Stanway, Alex Greenwood, Beth Mead, and Lauren Hemp, who were all injured. Despite this, England started strongly, with Manchester United midfielder Grace Clinton filling in for Stanway and performing well. However, the team's intensity dipped in the second half, and they were unable to hold on to their lead. Portugal, on the other hand, came into the game unbeaten in their last 10 matches and proved to be a tough opponent, using their pace to get in behind England's backline and test their defense.
The result leaves England behind Nations League champions Spain, who came from 2-0 down to beat Belgium 3-2 in the other match in Group A3. England's next test will be against Spain at Wembley Stadium on Wednesday, which will be a tough challenge for the team. Wiegman says that this is "another opportunity" to show their progression, and Bright hopes that more consistency will help England come the summer. The team will need to work on their weaknesses and improve their form if they are to defend their European title successfully. Some of the key areas for improvement include their defensive solidity, midfield control, and attacking ruthlessness.
Here are the match scores and statistics:
- England vs Portugal: 1-1
- Goals: Alessia Russo (15'), Kika Nazareth (65')
- England's starting XI: Mary Earps, Lucy Bronze, Millie Bright, Leah Williamson, Demi Stokes, Keira Walsh, Ella Toone, Grace Clinton, Alessia Russo, Chloe Kelly, Rachel Daly
- Portugal's starting XI: Ines Pereira, Joana Marchao, Carole Costa, Diana Gomes, Suzane Pires, Andreia Norton, Francisca Nazareth, Tatiana Pinto, Jessica Silva, Telma Encarnacao, Ana Borges
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