England Draws 1-1 with Portugal in Nations League Opener

The Lionesses started strong but struggled in the second half as Portugal's Kika Nazareth secured a late equalizer.

Alessia Russo scored for England in the 15th minute after a precise cross from Lucy Bronze, giving the Lionesses an early lead.
Portugal equalized in the 75th minute with a stunning goal from substitute Kika Nazareth, who capitalized on a defensive lapse.
England missed key players, including Georgia Stanway, Lauren Hemp, and Alex Greenwood, due to injuries, which impacted the team’s depth and adaptability.
Coach Sarina Wiegman acknowledged the team’s difficulty adjusting to Portugal’s second-half tactical changes and emphasized the need for improvement ahead of their match against Spain.
Spain, England’s next opponent, secured a dramatic 3-2 victory over Belgium with two stoppage-time goals, increasing the pressure on England in their Nations League campaign.