England vs Portugal LIVE: Lionesses result and reaction from World Cup send-off
England 0-0 Portugal: Sarina Wiegman’s side were held to a goalless draw before they travel to Australia next week
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England were held to a frustrating goalless draw by Portugal in their final match before the Lionesses head to the Women’s World Cup.
The hosts dominated possession and had several chances to take the lead at Milton Keynes but could not find the breakthrough, with Alessia Russo coming closest with a shot that was cleared off the line by Portugal defender Marques Borges.
Russo also dragged a chance wide after a pull-back from Chloe Kelly while Lucy Bronze hit the post from a corner during a flurry of second-half chances.
England fly to Australia later this week and play their opening match of the World Cup against Haiti on July 22. Before then the Lionesses will play Canada in a behind-closed-doors friendly in Brisbane.
Follow all the reaction the Lionesses were held by Portugal:
England vs Portugal LIVE - Latest updates
And now time for the anthems: the last the time the Lionesses will hear God Save the King on home soil before landing in Australia. A big St George’s flag forms in the far stand.
England vs Portugal LIVE - Latest updates
Before kick-off England will pay tribute to Carly Telford and Izzy Christensen after they recently retired from football. Both were England internationals and played a part in where the Lionesses are today.
England vs Portugal LIVE - Latest updates
Huge cheers in Stadium MK as Beth Mead is introduced to the sell-out crowd. Almost ready to go here, and really get England’s World Cup campaign kicked off. All eyes will be on Rachel Daly to see if she can make the most of this opportunity up front.
England’s road to the World Cup begins with a ‘different test’ - and it’s not just Portugal
A new summer, a new tournament, the same goal: England’s World Cup campaign begins in earnest against Portugal on Saturday, with a final send-off match before the Lionesses head to Australia. A year ago, England were starting to pick up momentum on home soil before the Euros, continuing the winning run under Sarina Wiegman that would carry them all the way to Wembley - and from there, history.
The same again? “I think the best thing we can do is just not compare,” said the midfielder and Euros winner Georgia Stanway. The Lionesses will once again be driven on by the chance to inspire the nation, but the challenge that awaits at the World Cup is completely different to the opportunity they seized so spectacularly last July.
Match preview
England’s road to the World Cup begins with a ‘different test’
Sarina Wiegman has plenty of competition for places as the Lionesses face Portugal in their World Cup send-off game at Milton Keynes
England vs Portugal LIVE - Latest updates
England captain Millie Bright on her recovery from a knee injury and her hopes of being ready for the World Cup.
“The knee’s really good. I think we are a little bit ahead (of schedule) actually. Coming into it, there’s a big chunk of time before the first game, so we’re really confident and everything is going exactly the way we wanted it to go.
“I think Saturday will be a little bit too soon. I’m not back with the girls yet and I don’t think we want to rush that. Obviously, we have a lot of time until the first game.”
“I think the amount of minutes I’ve played leading up to this has been ridiculous, through the roof, so if anything I feel mentally and physically fresher than I’ve ever felt.
“I can’t remember the last time I had longer than two weeks off. It’s been a fair few years now. A blessing in disguise I call it, that I’ve mentally and physically been able to completely just have a clean slate and let my body recover. I’ve played through many injuries but this one, I just couldn’t quite get there.”
England vs Portugal LIVE - Latest updates
Ella Toone on the importance of picking up momentum ahead of flying to the World Cup:
“It’s always good to have those games before the tournament to see where we are, to see what things we need to work on, to get out on the pitch with each other and get those connections back, building back up. It’s a great game, a different test to what we are going to face as well. It’s always nice to play in a proper game before we go out to the World Cup.
“I think we definitely do have a target on our backs now after the Euros but that’s what we want. We want to win everything and we have that winning mentality in that every time we step out we want to beat the team we are playing against. For us, we don’t put pressure on ourselves. We know that we need to go there out and perform and know we will come up against really good teams, but I think the main thing is making the nation proud and going out and enjoying ourselves.”
Team News - England
Rachel Daly gets the nod up front for England, picked ahead of Alessia Russo and Bethany England. Esme Morgan gets another opportunity at the back.
England XI: Earps; Bronze, Morgan, Greenwood, Carter; Stanway, Walsh, Toone; James, Daly, Hemp.
Substitutes: Roebuck, Hampton, Charles, Wubben-Moy, Coombs, Kelly, England, Zelem, Robinson, Russo, Le Tissier.
England vs Portugal LIVE - Latest updates
Decisions, decisions, decisions...
There is a lot of competition for places in this England team - particularly up front and on the wings. Who will Sarina Wiegman pick in England’s final game before flying to Australia? Does Rachel Daly start ahead of Alessia Russo and Beth England? And who out of Lauren James, Lauren Hemp and Chloe Kelly has to settle on the bench?
Team news is coming up shortly.
England vs Portugal LIVE - Latest updates
Georgia Stanway ahead of facing Portugal - and potentially winning her 50th England cap:
“I think in football, it’s really difficult to become reflective - football doesn’t rest and time doesn’t stand still, so it’s kind of one thing after another.
“You can see how fast and how much has changed since the Euros and everything that’s happened since then. So within football, you do something, you put it to bed and move on to the next thing.
“Of course I’ll try to enjoy tomorrow, and I’ll enjoy with my family in the stands, being with the girls. But the main focus is the next thing, which is the World Cup.”
England vs Portugal LIVE - Latest updates
Alessia Russo admitted she has found being the subject of transfer talk “tough” and is glad to be in camp with England focusing on this summer’s World Cup.
It was announced two weeks ago that Russo would be leaving Manchester United on the completion of her contract at the end of June, something she described at the time as the “hardest decision I’ve ever had to make”.
The 24-year-old has been linked with Arsenal, who had a world-record bid for her rejected in January.
Asked how much of a distraction transfer speculation had been, Russo said: “Towards the end of the season it was tough and then the summer has been tough.
“But that’s football, that’s the state of the women’s game. I just turned it off, took a break on holiday and completely switched off with all my friends and family.
“Then coming back into an environment like this is perfect because you’re competing, you have a huge tournament ahead and my full focus is on England.”
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