England held in Women’s W. Cup tune-up

LONDON — England was held to a frustrating 0-0 home draw by Portugal after the Lionesses dominated World Cup warm-up.

The European champions, who have lost one of their last 32 games, had 22 shots to Portugal’s two at Stadium MK, including a terrific chance for Georgia Stanway – earning her 50th cap – that she banged off the crossbar seconds before halftime.

Alessia Russo managed to beat Portugal goalkeeper Ines Pereira but defender Ana Borges stretched to make a spectacular clearance off the line during a flurry of second-half chances for England.

Lionesses captain Leah Williamson and Euro 2022 Golden Boot winner Beth Mead, who will both miss the World Cup with serious knee injuries, watched on from the stands.

“Of course we are disappointed that we didn’t score a goal,” manager Sarina Wiegman told ITV Sport after fourth-ranked England’s final match on home soil before flying to Australia.

“It was a little different between the first and second half. I think we were too slow in our possession game in the first half and we had too many players behind the ball.

“Although we did have lots of chances … (but) shots don’t say everything.”

Wiegman will have one more friendly to firm up her World Cup starting team with England playing Olympic champions Canada behind closed doors on July 14 in Australia.

“Yeah of course,” Wiegman said of tinkering with her squad.

“This was the first game after we’ve not seen each other for a long time. So last time was April (a 2-0 loss to Australia that ended England’s 30-game unbeaten run).

“So I think this is good. Then we travel on Wednesday, that will take a little time to get adjusted in Australia, then we have one more moment to play and then we should be ready.”

“I think the first half we were a little bit too slow, the ball tempo was, and we had too many players behind the ball or very close to it, and then when we did break lines we didn’t have enough numbers higher up the pitch. I think we did that a lot better in the second half.

“We had players higher on the pitch and created more chances, although I think in the first half we created a couple. But we just didn’t score.

“I think we had moments that were really good and moments we could have done a little better.”

England will kick off their sixth World Cup campaign on July 22 against Haiti.

Wiegman’s women also face Denmark and China in Group D.

Portugal, who was late additions to last year’s Euros as a replacement for banned Russia, will take on the Netherlands on July 23 in their World Cup debut in Group E.