England’s Women’s National Team faced Portugal on November 7, 2023, in their Nations League opener, which ended with both sides sharing points after a 1-1 draw. The match showcased the Lionesses' initial prowess, but it also highlighted their vulnerabilities as Portugal rallied to equalize.
The match started brightly for England, as they quickly began to assert their dominance. Lauren James provided the first hint of danger with her attempt cutting inside and shooting just over the bar. The Lionesses took the lead in the 15th minute when Alessia Russo capitalized on Lucy Bronze’s menacing cross from the right, tapping it past Portuguese goalkeeper, Inez Pereira. This well-placed strike gave England the first advantage they needed to build momentum.
Throughout the first half, England controlled possession and effectively stifled any threats from Portugal. Despite occasional attempts from Portuguese forward Diana Silva—whose attempt was narrowly missed—England maintained their composure and focus, efficiently extinguishing any signs of danger.
But the tides turned after halftime. Under Portuguese manager’s tactics, the home team amended their formation, increasing their attacking pressure. When Kika Nazareth was introduced as a substitute, she proved instrumental. Portugal pressed for the equalizer, and it eventually came during the 75th minute. Nazareth showed remarkable speed, racing past Grace Clinton and delivering a stunning shot to the top corner, leaving Mary Earps with no chance of saving it.
Post-match, Sarina Wiegman, head coach of the Lionesses, expressed disappointment at not clinching the win, acknowledging the strength of Portugal's second-half adjustments. "Of course, I’d hope to come away with more. I think we played a very good first half, I think we could have got some more goals; 'that would have helped,'" she explained to ITV. This emphasis on their strong performance indicates the confidence Wiegman holds for her squad's abilities.
Wiegman commented on Portugal's changes: "The second half they changed the shape, we had to adapt tothat." Her reflections underline the learning curve for England as they prepare for their next Nations League clash, which is against Spain at Wembley, who just pulled off a late 3-1 victory against Belgium.
The upcoming match holds even more significance for the Lionesses, not only because they are pitted against competitive opponents but also because of the recent history—having faced Spain just months earlier during the 2023 World Cup final. “We have work to do, it’s Spain. It’s going to be tough,” Wiegman acknowledged, emphasizing their focus and the positive aspects they can build on from the match against Portugal.
Despite the frustrations of the game, the Lionesses demonstrated moments of brilliance and the potential to fine-tune their coordination and offensive strategies before going head-to-head against Spain. While the draw was not the desired outcome, it serves as valuable preparation for the challenges they will face within their Nations League campaign.
England's last surge of hope during stoppage time witnessed Russo scuffing her shot wide and Williamson's header saved comfortably by Pereira, proving the Lionesses still had fight left until the last whistle was blown.
Looking forward, Wiegman’s intention to review the performance indicates her commitment to continuous improvement—a necessary attitude with the European Championships set to occur next summer. The upcoming attempts to breach Spain’s defense will be seen as pivotal to their growth as the tournament approaches.
With greater scrutiny on England’s low scoring games amid concerns over their offensive potency leading up to Euro 2025, the squad's upcoming training and adaptations following the match will play a huge role moving forward. England hopes to quickly bounce back and find their footing against Spain as they aim to solidify their path through the Nations League and beyond.