At least England are not peaking too early. While a goalless draw against Portugal will hardly be seared into the memory, it was functional and, for much of the second half, fluid enough.
How much can be read into results in such games is debatable anyway. Fortunate, really, given England’s failure to convert one of the 23 chances they fashioned.
That was one of several positives Sarina Wiegman can reflect on. That, plus a clean sheet; an intriguing battle to lead the line between Rachel Daly and Alessia Russo; and Lauren James. Just Lauren James.
It feels a tad unfair to liken her to Wayne Rooney heading to the 2004 Euros with England’s men, but there is something about James’s electricity. The freedom with which she plays is tantalising.
There were negatives, too, the inability to score being the real kicker. For much of the first half England looked every bit a team easing their way back post-holiday, and this – after April’s defeat to Australia – was the second consecutive match when they have failed to score.
It is selection, as is often the way when it comes to this stage pre-tournament, that piques the most interest. Much has been uttered about absent teammates – remember Wiegman stuck with same starting XI for the entirety of the successful Euros. But Leah Williamson, Beth Mead, Fran Kirby (injured) and Ellen White (retired) have left gaps to plug.
On Friday, Wiegman coyly suggested she is “getting closer” to knowing her starters but added that waters still required testing. But with only one friendly against Canada to come, the team sheet here felt weighty.
Most notably, Daly got the nod up front: her 22 Women’s Super League goals in 2022-23 mean she now wears No 9 rather than No 3. Daly was a livewire, if not quite clinical enough, during her 45 minutes. Twice she almost broke the deadlock, both opportunities coming with Lauren Hemp’s assistance. Early on, Inês Pereira clawed her header away, while her last act was to strike the bar.
But then at half-time came Russo, last summer’s designated “super sub”. Her presence immediately lifted England. Just before the hour, she burst through and rounded Pereira, only for her shot to be cleared off the line. From the resulting corner Lucy Bronze hit the woodwork with a towering header. Russo also spurned a pair of further chances to nudge ahead of Daly.
The wide positions, too, carry intrigue. Chloe Kelly – a name that will for ever be etched into English footballing history – was perhaps the surprise omission. But her problem, albeit one Wiegman will not deem problematic, is James’s emergence.
James’s international debut came last September but leaving a player of her talent out is near-impossible. She has pace to burn, skill to dazzle and did plenty to enhance her cause.
Kelly did likewise when she replaced a quiet Ella Toone at the interval. She and Hemp were interchangeable on the flanks, with James moving into a roaming No 10 role. It was certainly exciting, and England looked better for it.
Further back, defensive decisions must be made. Millie Bright will captain in Williamson’s absence, with her likely partner in defence Alex Greenwood. Except Bright is not yet ready to return from March’s knee surgery so Greenwood started at left-back, with Esme Morgan and Jess Carter were deployed centrally.
Carter’s first test came when Jéssica Silva threatened to break. She stood up to it, getting her body between player and ball. From there, she was a pleasingly authoritative presence. Given Bright’s absence, though, it is perhaps too early to read much into Wiegman’s choices.
Behind them, Mary Earps – barring a near-disaster late on when she took an eye off Hemp’s back pass only to see it roll just wide – enjoyed a quiet 90 minutes. She was sporting the OneLove rainbow armband Fifa have banned from the World Cup. Football’s governing body has instead sanctioned eight possible replacements.
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Picking opponents for a game like this is difficult. It is a little like a comedian selecting their tour warm-up: what you really want is competence but no real likelihood of being shown up. Portugal, having qualified for their first World Cup, ticked those boxes nicely.
But at least these 90 minutes put distance between England and a niggly June. The standoff as to when players would report for duty was resolved – albeit no one is quite sure how amicably – and a television blackout avoided.
That is vital. Last year’s home Euros glory captured hearts, minds and plenty of new followers. But England’s adventures in Australia and New Zealand will probably come with a sense of detachment. This afternoon on the outskirts of Milton Keynes at least allowed for some mutual appreciation-sharing.
