England 0-0 Portugal: Lionesses draw with Portugal in World Cup send-off

Alessia Russo had England's champion chances successful the 2nd fractional aft coming connected arsenic a substitute for Rachel Daly

England's last lucifer connected location ungraded earlier heading to Australia for the Women's World Cup saw a disappointing goalless gully against Portugal.

Substitute Alessia Russo was denied by a goalline artifact from Ana Borges, portion Lucy Bronze's header deed the crossbar.

England alert to Australia connected Wednesday and instrumentality connected Canada successful a affable down closed doors connected 14 July.

With their opening lucifer of the World Cup connected 22 July, Wiegman utilized 17 players and tried respective systems passim the crippled astatine Stadium MK successful an effort to fine-tune plans.

But the Lionesses, whose 30-game unbeaten tally ended with decision by Australia successful their past match, struggled to click for ample periods against Portugal and looked frustrated.

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Question marks stay implicit what England's champion XI is

All eyes were connected the squad enactment arsenic Wiegman had bold choices to marque successful attack, opting for Rachel Daly and Lauren James implicit Russo and Chloe Kelly from the start.

But it was a level archetypal fractional from England. They lacked energy, presumably impacted by the information they had not played for respective weeks pursuing the extremity of the Women's Super League (WSL) season, and were forced retired wide for ample periods by a stubborn Portugal defence.

Daly should person scored aboriginal connected though erstwhile Lauren Hemp curled successful an inviting transverse astatine the backmost post, lone for her to poke the shot wide, portion James showed glimpses of quality, combining nicely with full-back Bronze connected the right-hand side.

However, it was not until the 2nd fractional that the European champions started to amusement spark and their superiority.

Russo's instauration had an interaction arsenic she dropped successful heavy to nexus up with James, who moved to the fig 10 presumption and was much effectual than Ella Toone had been successful the opening half.

The striker had the champion of the chances, firing wide connected 2 occasions erstwhile teed up by Kelly, arsenic good arsenic being denied by Borges' artifact connected the line.

In a flurry of chances, Bronze's header crashed against the crossbar and Kelly besides had a changeable parried away. Hemp had an earlier accidental but she could not get her header connected target.

It gives Wiegman nutrient for thought connected squad enactment and what strategy to play, with England's opening crippled of the World Cup accelerated approaching.

England are not abbreviated of talent, adjacent with respective cardinal players missing done injury, but uncovering a mode for them to enactment unneurotic remains Wiegman's biggest situation - and she appears to beryllium much unsure connected however the squad volition look than she was going into Euro 2022.

More to follow.