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By TARA ANSON-WALSH Published: 09: 30 AEDT, 22 February 2025 | Updated: 09: 57 AEDT, 22 February 2025 View comments Much like holidaying in the Algarve in February, Sarina Wiegman’s Lionesses in their current iteration can be hit or miss. As the heavens opened on the Portimao Estadio, England’s struggles to put teams away – a recurring narrative since their World Cup final run in 2023 – once again reared its ugly head. Despite putting on her best available team to take on the world No 22, Wiegman’s side commenced their 2025 with a lacklustre display on Portugal’s south coast. ‘I’m disappointed about the result, ’ Wiegman said. ‘We played a very good first half and I think we [could have] made it a lot easier [if] we score more than one goal. ‘With the difference in level in the first half, we should have been more ruthless and done more with the opportunities we got. ’  After a ponderous opening quarter of an hour which saw England threaten to keep the lion’s share of the possession but lack any real attacking intent, a wonderful two-pass move broke the deadlock. England's Nations League campaign began with a limp 1-1 draw against Portugal on Friday  Alessia Russo had opened the scoring after just 15 minutes, with a cool finish from close range Sarina Wiegman's side face a huge 2025 when they will defend their European Championship title Lauren James spread the ball out wide to Lucy Bronze on the right wing, and the full-back took one touch to control it before flinging it into the penalty area, finding an unmarked and in-form Alessia Russo, who coolly tapped in from close-range. ENGLAND (4-3-3): Earps 7; Bronze 7 (Carter 46, 6. 5), Williamson 6. 5, Bright 6. 5, Charles 6. 5; Toone 6. 5, Walsh 8, Clinton 7 (Kelly 84); Park 7. 5 (Beever-Jones 84), Russo 7. 5, James 7. 5. Scorer: Russo 15. Booked: Park, Walsh, Clinton. Manager: Sarina Wiegman. 6. 5. Referee: Ivana Projkovska. The Lionesses failed to capitalise on their early advantage though, and the game started to grow scrappy as Wiegman’s side grew frustrated at their own lack of cohesion, as well as towards some debatable refereeing decisions. England and Wiegman felt they should have been given a penalty when Grace Clinton was taken down in the box on the stroke of half-time, but, as the Lionesses boss conceded, ‘you can’t change [the referee’s decision], and I think we had enough opportunities to score other goals. ’ Wiegman replaced Lucy Bronze for Jess Carter at half-time – a precautionary move – and it continued largely where it had left off, with the home side steadily growing in confidence in front of the partisan crowd. With the wind in their sails, Portugal drew level in the 75th minute with a wonderful strike into the top corner from Barcelona’s Kika Nazareth. The match limped to a 1-1 draw, a fair score for both performances. The concern for Wiegman is not yet the Euros this summer – ‘it’s February now, it’s not July’ she reminded the press pack – but how they will face a sterner test in the world champions Spain on Wednesday at Wembley. Published by Associated Newspapers Ltd Part of the Daily Mail, The Mail on Sunday & Metro Media Group