The beginning of England in 2025 was not quite as impressive as many hoped because Portugal was a strict test on Friday evening in the New Uefa Nations League campaign.
Sarina Wiegman’s team stormed after a promising start in Portimao with the kind permission of a well -worked goal by Alessia Russo. Optimistic England fans had hoped that the flood was firmly in its favor, but it became dramatic and the second half told a completely different story.
Portugal coach Francisco Neto made the necessary changes and made Barcelona striker Kika Nazareth, many of which expected. The 22-year-old triggered an excellent strike late, and Mary Earps had no chance when he broke through the back of the network.
After 15 minutes before playing, England made his own changes, but it was too little, too late. The damage had already been carried out, and the lion women ended their first game of 2025 with a draw.
Here, 90 minutes take a look at what we learned from the result of the nations in the nations League …
It was not a catastrophic result, but it wasn’t exactly a good one. It is crucial for England to use its Nations League campaign to confirm their dominance as a top team before Euro 2025 to defend their title. But this draw will have little to do to convey fear of its opponents.
In view of the first international break of the year, there is room for grace, but with a big test against Spain on Wednesday, the early signs are not as promising as hoped. If England appeared in Wembley in Wembley in the second half in Wembley, it could be much worse than a tie.
Alessia Russo’s opening goal was among the few positive on Friday evening. The striker is in good shape for her club after the leadership has changed this season this season, and it is gratifying to see that it has carried this form into the international stage.
If England has hope for an extremely difficult nations league group or should keep his title as a European champion in summer, Russo’s form will be of crucial importance. The striker options have changed drastically since 2022, in no way through Ellen White’s retirement, but the Arsenal star was the only constant. Many hopes of England rest on her shoulders.
Arsenal Leah Williamson’s defender was probably England’s best player against Portugal. She is not only an attacking outlet with her ability to the ball, but her decisive defense actions in the second half ensured that England went away at least one point.
In the second half, Williamson made several important blocks and interceptions to thwart Portugal when England had difficulty claiming himself. Some may emphasize that it was easily pulled out of the position in building Portugal’s equalizer, but without them it could have been another and even worse story.
Wiegman knows better than any other how substitutions can change games, and their use of Russo and Ella Toone, especially during the last euro in 2022, was one of the driving forces behind England’s historical victory. So it was astonishing to see so few changes until it was too late in Portugal.
Within the first 10 minutes of the second half it was clear that the momentum had shifted in favor of Portugal and that England did not have control as in the first 45th the warning signs were there and the bank’s indecisiveness ultimately conducted the hosts.
After the game, Wiegman admitted that they were waiting for the right time to make substitutions. However, it was clear that England had difficulty adapting to Portugal’s tactical changes – a great credit for Neto and his employees.
Apart from the change of defensive at halftime, in which Lucy bronze Jess Carter, it was Chloe Kelly and Aggie Bee-Jones who were late. Both received a little more than five minutes to achieve an effect, and it is fair to say that neither of them stated.
Wiegman has to trust her bank and use the squad available to her, especially when tired legs stand on the field and no longer work earlier tactical instructions.