England Women vs Portugal LIVE! Friendly result, match stream and latest updates today

England Women vs Portugal LIVE!

Despite what the 26,000 supporters packed into Stadium MK might have anticipated, England were held to a frustrating goalless draw with Portugal in Milton Keynes. In their final warm-up match on home soil before they jet off to Brisbane for the World Cup this month, the Lionesses hosted Portugal, who are gearing up for their first-ever Women’s World Cup.

Goalkeeper Ines Pereira made a superb, sprawling save inside five minutes to deny Rachel Daly — who was preferred up front to Alessia Russo — a headed opener from Lauren Hemp’s cross. Russo rounded the goalkeeper after coming on at the break but was denied on the line by Ana Borges, From the resulting corner, Lucy Bronze nodded against the post, before Russo twice shot wide — both times assisted by Chloe Kelly, who was magnificent off the bench and is without question England’s most in-form wide player, heading into the World Cup.

Daly and particularly Russo were guilty of squandering a host of chances, and England fans will fear that April’s rain-dampened 2-0 defeat to Australia at Brentford threatens to become more than a mere blip at the worst possible time.

England Women vs Portugal latest news

• FT: Lionesses held by Portugal

• OFF THE LINE! Russo goes close

• HT: Goalless after 45 minutes

FT: England 0-0 Portugal

17:12 , Matt Verri

And that is that at Stadium MK.

Portugal hold firm and it’s a frustrating draw for England in their final match before flying to Australia.

Much, much more needed from the Lionesses when the serious business gets underway.

17:09 , Matt Verri

90+3 mins: Gomes is the second Portugal player to go into the book.

Loose ball falls for Russo, she turns and looks to set England away on the counter but gets cynically chopped down.

17:06 , Matt Verri

90 mins: Pereira has gone down, seems to have tweaked something as she booted the ball up the pitch. Needs some treatment.

Five minutes added on.

17:04 , Matt Verri

88 mins: Robinson wins a corner for the Lionesses, who are running out of time to find a winner. Not what they had planned for their World Cup send-off.

Again it’s deep to the back post, Bronze is there but well claimed by Pereira in goal.

17:01 , Matt Verri

85 mins: Morgan with a great pass out wide to Kelly, who skips away from the challenge.

Whips the cross in, Coombs has an initial effort blocked and then swipes a second wide as she swings a boot at it while on the floor.

16:57 , Matt Verri

82 mins: Kelly and Russo continue to cause Portugal huge problems. They could easily have scored three or four between them since the break.

The volley from Kelly isn’t directed at goal, but the ball comes back to her and she slices it over the bar from a tight angle.

16:56 , Matt Verri

80 mins: Pinto shown a yellow card, after she barges James over. Had no interest in trying to track James back, as the England star drove forward with the ball.

Another Lionesses change - Robinson is on for Hemp.

Dom Smith at Stadium MK

16:54 , Matt Verri

One of Portugal’s players has just nutmegged the referee while the game was paused, and then giggled at her team-mate who caught her doing it.

I’d argue it’s perhaps been the best moment of the match, and I doubt they even caught it on TV.

16:53 , Matt Verri

77 mins: Kelly down the right, low cross fired into the six-yard box and Russo sends the effort wide.

Russo has jad a big impact since coming on though, has been in the game far more than Daly was in the opening 45 minutes.

16:50 , Matt Verri

74 mins: Charles unable to set Kelly away down the left, but England will settle for the corner.

Taken short, eventually whipped in and Charles wins the header, but nods straight at the goalkeeper.

16:47 , Matt Verri

72 mins: Coombs with a great cross into the middle, Russo looks to volley it at goal but doesn’t catch the strike at all. Comfortable save.

Just under 20 minutes for the Lionesses to find a goal and ensure they don’t head Down Under in frustrating fashion.

Dom Smith at Stadium MK

16:46 , Matt Verri

There are a group of fans desperately counting down from five trying to start a Mexican Wave, which keeps failing to catch on. They then proceed to boo.

England’s players could be forgiven for thinking the boos were for them. It’s been a tepid match at moments, this.

16:45 , Matt Verri

69 mins: Wow. Almost disastrous from England.

Hemp fires a back pass to Earps, it bounces away from her and wide of the post. Out for a corner, not far away at all from being a horrible own goal.

Dom Smith at Stadium MK

16:42 , Matt Verri

Laura Coombs replaces Georgia Stanway, who has been player of the match, in my opinion. Some great turns, this way and that, to get out of trouble and some wonderful passes too.

She could be crucial to England’s chances this summer.

16:41 , Matt Verri

66 mins: Another England corner, Hemp taking this way. Whipped towards the edge of the box, headed away.

Zelem and Coombs are on for Walsh and Stanway.

Dom Smith at Stadium MK

16:38 , Matt Verri

Stadium MK has awoken from its lull after three chances in quick succession. Russo is denied on the line, then Bronze hits the post, and finally Russo slides the ball wide after excellent work from Kelly.

The Lionesses are getting closer.

16:37 , Matt Verri

61 mins: And Bronze hits the post from the corner that follows! All England now.

Here they come again, Kelly drives into the box and squares for Russo, who somehow fires wide from 12 yards out. Dragged that, should really have scored.

16:35 , Matt Verri

59 mins: OFF THE LINE!

As close as England have come. James slides a great pass through to Russo, she pokes it around the goalkeeper and slides in to get the shot away, cleared away on the line by Borges.

Brilliant defending.

16:34 , Matt Verri

58 mins: Silva skips past Charles, gets dragged back by the England defender... who somehow avoids a yellow card. Incredibly generous. Portugal have to settle for a corner.

Floated towards the back post, too close to Earps though and she claims comfortably.

16:31 , Matt Verri

56 mins: Russo looks to fire an effort at goal on the swivel, instead boots a defender. That will be a free-kick.

Kelly has already had an impact since coming on, playing mainly on the left wing. Hemp has moved over to the right, James playing behind Russo.

Dom Smith at Stadium MK

16:29 , Matt Verri

England have a very attacking frontline now that Chloe Kelly and Alessia Russo have joined Hemp in the front three.

With Lauren James now behind them as a Number 8 alongside Stanway, surely the Lionesses will be more of an attacking threat now.

16:28 , Matt Verri

52 mins: England corner coming up, Stanway trudges over to take it.

It’s floated in, great deliver and Hemp is free in the middle... header over the bar! That’s a big, big chance.

16:25 , Matt Verri

49 mins: Nazareth is in a fair bit of pain for Portugal.

She’s limping along the touchline, looks close to tears. Unsurprisingly she’s straight off, have to hope that’s not an injury that puts her World Cup in doubt.

16:22 , Matt Verri

47 mins: Kelly finds space 20 yards out, pretty much her first touch of the ball.

Left-footed strike as she’s closed down is a tame one, comfortable save. England straight on the front foot though after the break.

Three England changes

16:20 , Matt Verri

Back underway!

Wiegman has indeed turned to her bench. Kelly, Russo and Charles all on for the Lionesses. Hemp, Daly and Greenwood the three to make way.

16:14 , Matt Verri

Reminder of those on the bench for England this afternoon - imagine it won’t be look until we see the likes of Kelly and Russo the way this match is going.

Subs: Hampton, Roebuck, Charles, Wubben-Moy, Coombs, Kelly, England, Zelem, Robinson, Russo, Le Tissier, Staniforth

Dom Smith at Stadium MK

16:09 , Matt Verri

That was the closest England have come as Georgia Stanway’s cushioned volley clips the bar. Immediately the half-time whistle is blown.

Underwhelming from the Lionesses so far. A big second half is needed to satisfy the huge support at Stadium MK.

HT: England 0-0 Portugal

16:04 , Matt Verri

Hemp with a good ball in, Stanway is there at the back post putting the defenders under pressure.

Loops up, hits the top of the bar and over. And that will be half-time.

It’s not been a thriller.

16:01 , Matt Verri

42 mins: More like it from England.

Daly played in down the left, drives into the box and onto her right foot. Has three white shirts waiting for it to be squared, she goes for goal herself though and the shot is blocked.

15:59 , Matt Verri

40 mins: Greenwood’s cross sails over the bar, frustrating half continues for England.

Five minutes to go until the break, the Lionesses probably need it. This half isn’t really going anywhere for them.

Dom Smith at Stadium MK

15:56 , Matt Verri

Really not vintage England this. It’s been a very dull first half so far. After England’s incredible recent run, it’s easy to forget they lost their last game, 2-0 to Australia in April.

Sarina Wiegman will hope that was a blip and not the start of some unwanted poor form at the worst possible time.

15:55 , Matt Verri

36 mins: Toone pounces on a loose pass, looks to find Daly but it’s cut out.

England haven’t been able to get that final ball right, no real chances to speak of since that early Daly header.

15:53 , Matt Verri

34 mins: Almost!

James with a lovely clipped ball into the middle, Hemp is lurking at the back post but Borges gets a crucial flick on it. Took it just away from Hemp and out for a corner.

Greenwood sends it in deep, nodded down for Daly and her acrobatic effort is sent well over the bar.

Dom Smith at Stadium MK

15:49 , Matt Verri

In the week when FIFA revealed the eight armbands permitted at the upcoming World Cup and controversially omitted the OneLove armband from that selection, Mary Earps — England’s captain on the day — is wearing a rainbow armband today.

That is pertinent because Pride in London takes place today.

15:47 , Matt Verri

28 mins: Morgan called into action as the ball is played in behind the England defence, she does well to read it and get back to clear the danger.

Portugal starting to grow into this again, gaining confidence having made it this far with the scoreboard still untroubled.

15:42 , Matt Verri

24 mins: Not the best.

Taken short, worked out to Walsh and she then floats the attempt at a cross straight out of play.

15:41 , Matt Verri

22 mins: James slows things down on the right, as two red shirts come to close her down.

Knocks the ball outside, makes space for the cross but it’s charged down. England corner coming up, crowd respond to that bit of excitement.

15:37 , Matt Verri

18 mins: England continue to press, but Portugal are keeping them at bay.

Ball comes to Toone, in space 25 yards out so she drives forward with it. Goes for goal from just outside the box, drags it well wide of the far post.

Dom Smith at Stadium MK

15:36 , Matt Verri

England’s World Cup opener on July 22 is against Haiti in Brisbane.

Today’s opponents Portugal thrashed the Haitians 5-0 in a friendly in Lisbon back in November.

15:35 , Matt Verri

16 mins: James again the one to make things happening, fires the ball across the face of goal.

Daly throws herself at it, six yards out but she can’t quite catch up with it. Hemp then unable to keep the attack going at the back post.

15:31 , Matt Verri

12 mins: James has looked really sharp when she’s got on the ball, already causing Portugal plenty of problems.

Hemp does just that on the opposite flank, brought down as she cut inside. Advantage played, Toone clips a cross in but it’s booted away to safety.

15:28 , Matt Verri

9 mins: Toone drips Pinto out wide, free-kick for Portugal. Wiegman less than impressed.

Not a great delivery in, bobbles around though and eventually goes out of play. Goal-kick given, but that looked like it hit Greenwood’s arm. Officials not interested.

Dom Smith at Stadium MK

15:27 , Matt Verri

That was a stunning save from Ines Pereira to claw away Rachel Daly’s header after Lauren Hemp had crossed into the box.

England so nearly ahead inside six minutes.

15:26 , Matt Verri

7 mins: James feeds the ball wide to Bronze, who has plenty of space out on the right.

Cut back to Stanway, she tries to chop inside in the box but there door is slammed shut. England starting to build the pressure.

15:24 , Matt Verri

5 mins: Good save!

England very nearly take the lead. Worked well down the lead, ball into the box from Hemp and Daly is completely free. She doesn’t make great connection with the header, allowing Pereira to just about get time in time to keep it out.

Less than a minute later, another ball whipped in and this time Daly’s header is saved more comfortably.

15:21 , Matt Verri

2 mins: Confident start from Portugal on the ball, looking to build up from the back and England are happy enough to let them have it in defence.

The Lionesses win it back, only for Walsh to pass it straight out of play. Not what we’ve come to expect.

KICK-OFF!

15:18 , Matt Verri

We are up and running in this pre-World Cup friendly!

Dom Smith at Stadium MK

15:14 , Matt Verri

There’s a tribute on the pitch for ex-Lionesses Carly Telford and Izzy Christiansen, who recently retired as players.

Goalkeeper Telford won 27 England caps, while midfielder Christiansen played 31 times for her country.

Here we go!

15:10 , Matt Verri

Players are out onto the pitch, plenty of smiles and relaxed faces.

Reminder that England were beaten in their last match, earlier in the year. That was their first defeat under Sarina Wiegman... surely it won’t be two in a row.

Dom Smith at Stadium MK

15:02 , Matt Verri

Beth Mead on the pitch here pre-match. “We loved every second of the Euros. We love what we do”, she says.

She will be sorely missed this summer, that’s for sure.

14:57 , Alex Young

Final preparations being done as ITV answer Dom’s questions regarding the defence. They have Alex Greenwood at left back, which leaves centre back pairing of Esme Morgan and Jess Carter.

An interesting call from the boss.

14:49 , Alex Young

Filling up nicely. Just under half an hour until kick-off.

14:45 , Alex Young

Ian Wright is back on Lionesses duty today and has some kind words on Beth England.

“I think [Beth England] has got to take a lot of credit for making that move to Tottenham,” he said on ITV.

“She's staving off relegation, with all due respect to her, and has a different mindset.”

He added: “I’d put Maya Le Tissier as one of the players of the season so for her to not make [the lineup] is really disappointing for her.”

Dom Smith at Stadium MK

14:39 , Alex Young

It’ll be interesting to see who partners Esme Morgan in England’s centre-back pairing today. Sarina Wiegman says Millie Bright is England’s official captain for the tournament but she remains sidelined for the moment.

Can Morgan nail down that second space? And who plays alongside her today… Alex Greenwood or Jess Carter? Lots of questions to be answered…

‘This could be the World Cup XI'

14:36 , Alex Young

Ellen White believes England’s line-up today could be the same picked to face Haiti in their World Cup opener.

“I think the numbers of the selection of the shirts is a big indication to me of the numbers that will be given going into the World Cup,” she told 5Live.

“I think this could potentially be the starting XI. People need to get minutes but I think this could be the starting XI for England.”

14:20 , Alex Young

Georgia Stanway earns her 50th cap in Milton Keynes and Wiegman has given Rachel Daly the nod up front with Alessia Russo on the bench.

Mark Earps is captain.

Jordan Nobbs and Millie Bright are both in the England squad but will miss this game through injury while Fran Kirby, Leah Williamson, Beth Mead and Jess Park are all unavailable for the summer.

14:16 , Alex Young

England XI: Earps; Bronze, Morgan, Greenwood, Carter; Walsh, Stanway, Toone; James, Daly, Hemp.

Subs: Hampton, Roebuck, Charles, Wubben-Moy, Coombs, Kelly, England, Zelem, Robinson, Russo, Le Tissier, Staniforth

England XI

14:12 , Alex Young

Here it is!

14:05 , Alex Young

The fans are beginning to arrive. Team news is imminent.

Wiegman on schedule

13:51 , Alex Young

This is technically not England’s final test before the World Cup as they will face Canada in a behind-closed-doors friendly on July 14, but this is the final public one.

"You want to get your schedule right and this is the right schedule," said Wiegman on Friday.

"It means we can only have two games before we go into the World Cup and also travelling to the other side of the world which takes two days.

"Of course you want to play more games. You plan ahead and this was the best possible preparation we can have."

13:45 , Alex Young

The stage is set, as they say.

Prediction

13:27 , Alex Young

England’s long unbeaten run under Wiegman came to an end in April with defeat to Australia, but the Lionesses will be confident of getting back to winning ways here.

Portugal can be expected to sit back and try and make things difficult, as they will likely have to do against the USA and the Netherlands in this summer’s World Cup.

England though should have enough to break them down and give the home fans something to cheer in the final match before the flight Down Under.

England to win, 3-0.

Portugal team news

13:14 , Alex Young

Portugal boast plenty of experience and manager Francisco Neto has a fully fit squad for the final run out ahead of the World Cup.

England team news

13:00 , Alex Young

Jordan Nobbs and Millie Bright are both in the England squad but will miss this game through injury while Fran Kirby, Leah Williamson, Beth Mead and Jess Park are all unvailable for the summer.

Georgia Stanway is expected to earn her 50th cap in Milton Keynes and Wiegman will have to decide who to start in front of the Bayern Munich midfielder.

Rachel Daly and Alessia Russo are competing for the striker’s spot with Chloe Kelly, Lauren Hemp and Lauren James the prime candidates on the wing.

How to watch

12:55 , Alex Young

TV channel: The game will be broadcast on free-to-air TV in the UK on ITV 1, with coverage starting at 2.30pm BST ahead of a 3.15pm kick-off.

Live stream: ITVX will offer a free live stream on mobile devices, laptops, games consoles and more.

Welcome

12:46 , Alex Young

Hello and welcome to the Evening Standard’s LIVE coverage of the friendly between England and Portugal.

It is the last run out for the Lionesses ahead of the Women’s World Cup and Sarina Wiegman still has decisions to make.

Kick-off at stadium:mk is at 3.15pm and we have Dom Smith for us there today. Stick with us.