Published 21 February 2025 5 min read
England Women's Senior Team
Report: Portugal 1-1 England
- Kika Nazareth (75′)
- Catarina Amado (24′)
- Tatiana Pinto (66′)
FULL TIME
UEFA Nations League 2025-26 League A
Friday 21 February, 07:45 PM
Estádio Municipal de Portimão
1
1
HT: 0 - 1
- A. Russo (15′)
- J. Park (35′)
- K. Walsh (65′)
- G. Clinton (79′)
The Lionesses were held to a draw in Portimao as they kicked-off their UEFA Women's Nations League campaign
21 Feb 2025
2:53
Highlights: Portugal 1-1 England
See the best of the action as England kicked off 2025 in Portimão
Portugal v England
UEFA Nations League
7.45pm GMT, Friday 21 February 2025
Estádio Municipal de Portimão
Sarina Wiegman and Lucy Bronze faced the press on Thursday morning ahead of England’s first game of the calendar year as the Lionesses come up against Portugal in the UEFA Women’s Nations League.
Here is what they had to say in full.
Wiegman on preparations for the game:
We have one more training session but we’re very close to our starting line-up. We think about many scenarios and what the options are and at the end, we’ll pick one. This also shows again that it’s really good to have friendly games to try out things. We have a lot of things in consideration and you’ll see tomorrow what we’ll pick.
On the importance of England’s upcoming match-ups:
Things have changed, also with the Nations League coming in. Before the Nations League, we’d play different countries from different levels and we’re never going to win 20-0 again – I don’t think that’s competitive anyway. When we had the Nations League, we had the likes of Sweden and France in the group and that’s not easy. First of all, we’re going to approach these games to win because this Nations League is also important to get us in the best position for the draw for the qualification for the World Cup which is a little further away but that’s why these games are very important too.
On the make-up of the squad:
Whether you’re young or whether you’re an experienced player, I want everyone to play at their best and when they play at their best and we’re connected, we’re going to play our best game. We approach it game-by-game and we want to get good results. Playing these games will give us more learnings too. We’re going in the right direction. What you see is we have many talented players and we’re really excited now that the new Nations League starts which is a good group too, starting tomorrow against Portugal. I’m excited to see the ones who come on the pitch tomorrow to show who they are and what England is about.
We're LIVE with Sarina Wiegman and Lucy Bronze as they preview tomorrow’s game against Portugal 💪 https://t.co/ddvLxfDioM
— Lionesses (@Lionesses) February 20, 2025
Bronze on her Portuguese heritage:
I’ve played against them a few times but I absolutely love it. I have a little Portugal flag on my boots actually. My first-ever football kit was a Portugal kit and I spent all my holidays in this kind of area. It influenced me a lot. My parents actually met about ten minutes away from here in the Algarve strip about 40 years ago! They’re a team I root for – obviously not when we play against each other – but I always hope the best for them. I hope they do really well in the Nations League – just not against us.
On the test Portugal will pose:
They’ve got a got a good array of players now. They’ve developed a lot in the last ten years especially which I know from having watched them quite closely. The league has developed a lot more in Portugal as well. They’re developing really good players and they’ve got fast forwards.
On this summer’s EUROs:
Everyone’s always going to have one eye on the summer – that’s for sure – but as Sarina said, we are focused and taking it one game at a time. With the Nations League and the set up now, it means that every game matters so much. We saw that in the fact we slipped into the second seed pot and it’s been difficult to get back out of that because of how competitive it is. We know that’s important going forward in our rankings so it is important that we focus on the here and now.
On the learnings England can take into 2025:
We have the talent – that’s clear. You can see that week in and week out, whether it’s the players playing in the league or when they come to England camp. In 2024, some results didn’t go our way but the most important thing is when we get to the summer, that’s when we want to make sure we’re performing for that tournament but right now, we’re focused on the Nations League. We’ve got so many players in such good places and we’re missing key players through injury but it’s an exciting time for some of the other players to step up and I think they’re all ready to go that. Players in 2024 gained a lot of experience and I think we learnt a lot from that which is going to give us maybe a bit more of an edge going into 2025.
Portugal in profile
Nickname: A Selecção das Quinas
Coach: Francisco Neto
Captain: Dolores Silva
Last encounter: England 0-0 Portugal, International Match, 1 July 2023
Match stats
● This will be the first competitive meeting between Portugal and England since the group stage of EURO 2017, with the Lionesses winning 2-1 in the Netherlands thanks to goals from Toni Duggan and Nikita Parris.
● England are unbeaten in each of their ten meetings with Portugal in all competitions (W7 D3), only facing Finland (13), Northern Ireland (12) and Switzerland (12) more often without ever suffering defeat.
● England finished as group runners up in the inaugural UEFA Nations League in the 2023-24 season, denied top spot by the Netherlands on goal difference (+8 to +7), who scored two stoppage time goals on the final matchday.
● England are unbeaten in their opening game of the year in each of the last four calendar years (W3 D1), beating Austria 7-2 in their first match of 2024.
● No team lost more games in the 2023-24 UEFA Nations League A than Portugal (W1 L5), who have lost each of their last four matches in the competition.
● England are unbeaten in their last three games in all competitions (W2 D1), drawing 0-0 with the USA and beating Switzerland 1-0 in their most recent two; the Lionesses last kept three consecutive clean sheets in July 2023, the first of which came against Portugal.
● Portugal went unbeaten across the whole of 2024 in all competitions (W10 D2) with A Selecção das Quinas’ last defeat coming against France in December 2023.
● England have lost only one of their last eight competitive fixtures in all competitions (W5 D2), going unbeaten in three (W2 D1) since a 2-1 home loss against France in May 2024.
● Portugal’s Diana Silva has scored five goals across her last four national team appearances; in fact only Slovenia’s Lara Prasnikar (9), Norway’s Frida Maanum (7) and Scotland’s Martha Thomas (7) netted more goals than Silva (6) in EURO 2025 qualification.
● At 21 years old, Grace Clinton has scored the winning goal in each of her last two England appearances and could become the youngest player on record to score in three straight for the national team (since 2013); the last Lioness to net in three consecutive outings overall was Beth Mead in July 2022.
01 Jul 2023
6:05
Last time out: England 0-0 Portugal
The Lionesses played out a goalless draw with Portugal in July 2023 before heading out to Australia
England Squad News
Ticket Information
Tickets for this game are on sale now.
How to watch or stream
This game will be broadcast in the UK on ITV.
Sarina Wiegman has named her England team to face Portugal in the UEFA Nations League.
The Lionesses kick-off at 7.45pm and you can follow all of the action with our live commentary and stats on this page.
England: 1 Mary Earps, 2 Lucy Bronze, 3 Niamh Charles, 4 Keira Walsh, 5 Millie Bright, 6 Leah Williamson (C), 7 Jess Park, 8 Grace Clinton, 9 Alessia Russo, 10 Ella Toone, 11 Lauren James
Substitutes: 12 Esme Morgan, 13 Hannah Hampton, 14 Maya Le Tissier, 15 Millie Turner, 16 Jess Carter, 17 Chloe Kelly, 18 Jessica Naz, 19 Aggie Beever-Jones, 20 Nikita Parris, 21 Anna Moorhouse, 22 Ruby Mace, 23 Laura Blindkilde Brown
Alessia Russo’s first-half strike helped the Lionesses earn a battling 1-1 draw away to Portugal in the Algarve in their UEFA Women’s Nations League opener.
Sarina Wiegman’s charges looked the better side in the opening 45 minutes but could not find a second goal.
And Portugal came into the game in the second half, with substitute Kika Nazareth coming off the bench to level up and earn the home side a point.
After this clash with Portugal, England will now prepare to face Spain in Group 3, the match between the reigning European champions and the FIFA World Cup holders scheduled for Wednesday at Wembley.
England set their stall out from the beginning, dominating possession and putting pressure on a Portuguese team that was happy to sit deep.
To counter that, the Lionesses looked to play in space, with Grace Clinton showing her value in place of the injured Georgia Stanway.
Lauren James, in her first England appearance since last April, had already seen one fierce effort drift over the bar before Clinton turned neatly to play in Ella Toone, with the Manchester United striker pushing her effort just wide.
Lucy Bronze spoke in the week of her affinity for Portuguese football, explaining that her parents had actually met on the Algarve strip.
She appeared to enjoy her return, providing a stunning touch to set up Russo for the opening goal. Played into space on the right by James, Bronze controlled the ball initially before whipping it on the bounce into the six-yard box where Russo fired home.
Having conceded, Portugal started to come into the game, Diana Silva well closed down by Leah Williamson as she pounced on a loose ball in the England box.
Lauren James, in her first England appearance since last April, had already seen one fierce effort drift over the bar before Clinton turned neatly to play in Ella Toone, with the Manchester United striker pushing her effort just wide.
Lucy Bronze spoke in the week of her affinity for Portuguese football, explaining that her parents had actually met on the Algarve strip.
She appeared to enjoy her return, providing a stunning touch to set up Russo for the opening goal. Played into space on the right by James, Bronze controlled the ball initially before whipping it on the bounce into the six-yard box where Russo fired home.
Having conceded, Portugal started to come into the game, Diana Silva well closed down by Leah Williamson as she pounced on a loose ball in the England box.
Russo almost set up a second late in the half, with a header back across goal that no England player could get to.
Bronze went off at half time, replaced by Jess Carter, while James threatened again early in the second half with a fizzing effort from a tight angle on the left, forcing Ines Pereira into a sharp save to earn a corner.
Despite being on top, England were struggling to create chances to stretch their lead, and were given a warning with 20 minutes to go when a cross from Ana Borges caused some panic in the box.
Bronze went off at half time, replaced by Jess Carter, while James threatened again early in the second half with a fizzing effort from a tight angle on the left, forcing Ines Pereira into a sharp save to earn a corner.
Despite being on top, England were struggling to create chances to stretch their lead, and were given a warning with 20 minutes to go when a cross from Ana Borges caused some panic in the box.
Portugal had brought on Barcelona star Nazareth and she levelled with 15 minutes to go with a brilliant finish. A clever flick from Ana Capeta found the substitute who drove forward before finishing into the top right corner past Mary Earps.
The momentum had shifted, with Williamson making a crucial block as Nazareth tried to put Portugal in front with ten minutes to go.
England pushed forward in added time, Russo with an effort on the half-volley that forced a corner before Williamson’s header had to be dealt with by Pereira but ultimately the points were shared as the 2025 edition of the Nations League gets underway.
The momentum had shifted, with Williamson making a crucial block as Nazareth tried to put Portugal in front with ten minutes to go.
England pushed forward in added time, Russo with an effort on the half-volley that forced a corner before Williamson’s header had to be dealt with by Pereira but ultimately the points were shared as the 2025 edition of the Nations League gets underway.
Portugal: 1 Ines Pereira, 2 Catarina Amado, 5 Joana Marchao, 8 Andreaia Norton, 9 Ana Borges, 10 Jessica Silva, 11 Tatiana Pinto, 14 Dolores Silva, 15 Carole Costa, 16 Diana Silva, 19 Diana Gomes
Substitutes: 7 Francisca Nazareth for Dolores Silva 59’, 6 Andreia Jacinto for Amado 59’, 3 Lucia Alves for Marchao 59’, 21 Ana Capeta for Jessica Silva 74’, 17 Andreia Faria for Diana Silva 90+3’
Subs not used: 12 Patricia Morais, 22 Rute Costa, 4 Ana Seica, 13 Stephanie Ribeiro, 18 Caroline Mendes, 20 Ana Rodrigues, 23 Ana Dias
Goals: Nazareth 76’
Yellow cards: Amado 24', Pinto 66’
Head Coach: Francisco Neto
England: 1 Mary Earps (Paris Saint-Germain), 2 Lucy Bronze (Chelsea), 3 Niamh Charles (Chelsea), 4 Keira Walsh (Chelsea), 5 Leah Williamson (Arsenal), 6 Millie Bright (Chelsea), 7 Jess Park (Manchester City), 8 Grace Clinton (Manchester United), 9 Alessia Russo (Arsenal), 10 Ella Toone (Manchester United), 11 Lauren James (Chelsea)
Substitutes: 16 Jess Carter (Gotham FC) for Bronze 46’, 17 Chloe Kelly (Arsenal) for Park 83’, 19 Aggie Beever-Jones (Chelsea) for Clinton 83’
Subs not used: 13 Hannah Hampton (Chelsea), 21 Anna Moorhouse (Orlando Pride), 12 Esme Morgan (Washington Spirit), 14 Maya Le Tissier (Manchester United), 15 Millie Turner (Manchester United), 18 Jessica Naz (Tottenham Hotspur), 20 Nikita Parris (Brighton & Hove Albion), 22 Ruby Mace (Leicester City), 23 Laura Blindkilde Brown (Manchester City)
Goals: Russo 15’
Yellow cards: Park 35’, Walsh 65’, Clinton 79’
Head Coach: Sarina Wiegman
Substitutes: 7 Francisca Nazareth for Dolores Silva 59’, 6 Andreia Jacinto for Amado 59’, 3 Lucia Alves for Marchao 59’, 21 Ana Capeta for Jessica Silva 74’, 17 Andreia Faria for Diana Silva 90+3’
Subs not used: 12 Patricia Morais, 22 Rute Costa, 4 Ana Seica, 13 Stephanie Ribeiro, 18 Caroline Mendes, 20 Ana Rodrigues, 23 Ana Dias
Goals: Nazareth 76’
Yellow cards: Amado 24', Pinto 66’
Head Coach: Francisco Neto
England: 1 Mary Earps (Paris Saint-Germain), 2 Lucy Bronze (Chelsea), 3 Niamh Charles (Chelsea), 4 Keira Walsh (Chelsea), 5 Leah Williamson (Arsenal), 6 Millie Bright (Chelsea), 7 Jess Park (Manchester City), 8 Grace Clinton (Manchester United), 9 Alessia Russo (Arsenal), 10 Ella Toone (Manchester United), 11 Lauren James (Chelsea)
Substitutes: 16 Jess Carter (Gotham FC) for Bronze 46’, 17 Chloe Kelly (Arsenal) for Park 83’, 19 Aggie Beever-Jones (Chelsea) for Clinton 83’
Subs not used: 13 Hannah Hampton (Chelsea), 21 Anna Moorhouse (Orlando Pride), 12 Esme Morgan (Washington Spirit), 14 Maya Le Tissier (Manchester United), 15 Millie Turner (Manchester United), 18 Jessica Naz (Tottenham Hotspur), 20 Nikita Parris (Brighton & Hove Albion), 22 Ruby Mace (Leicester City), 23 Laura Blindkilde Brown (Manchester City)
Goals: Russo 15’
Yellow cards: Park 35’, Walsh 65’, Clinton 79’
Head Coach: Sarina Wiegman