England Women vs Portugal Women predictions: Wembley visitors can strike against Lionesses
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- England preparing for final home game before defending their European title
- Portugal need to bounce back from two heavy defeats to Spain
- Recommended bet: Both teams to score
The main business of the summer awaits the Lionesses at the end of next month when they head to Switzerland to defend their European title, but two Women's Nations League games are coming up in the meantime, starting with a Wembley appointment against Portugal on Friday.
Their opponents have already held Sarina Weigman’s side to a 1-1 draw in February, but they will be looking for better fortunes than their last two games against Spain, which ended in 4-2 and 7-1 defeats.
Team news
England were shocked this week by the news that goalkeeper Mary Earps would be retiring from international football, even though she had only recently lost her starting spot to Chelsea’s Hannah Hampton.
Manchester City forward Lauren Hemp has been recalled to the squad but Chelsea playmaker Lauren James remains sidelined.
Tottenham defender Ella Morris had been hoping to make her debut on Friday but has been forced to pull out of the squad after suffering a serious knee injury in training, with Manchester City midfielder Laura Blindkilde Brown called up in her place.
Portugal manager Francisco Neto has no reported injury concerns but must choose between Patricia Morais and Ines Pereira in goal.
The stats
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Portugal have scored in all but one of their last 16 matches.
Both teams have scored in seven of Portugal’s last nine games.
Portugal have lost one of their last seven on the road, winning five and drawing one.
Seven of England’s 10 Nations League matches have featured at least three goals.
England have scored in 13 of their 14 home matches since the 2023 World Cup.
Prediction
England will want to go into their Euros defence having beaten both Portugal and world champions Spain in their final two Nations League matches, but Sarina Weigman’s team have been rather inconsistent so far.
They were held to a 1-1 draw in Portugal, who they face again at Wembley on Friday, before receiving the boost of a 1-0 win over Spain, while the up-and-down nature of their campaign was illustrated when they fell 3-2 in Belgium just a few days after beating them 5-0 at home.
There is sure to be a party atmosphere for the Lionesses’ final home game before they head to Switzerland, but while they go in search of a five successive clean sheets — a run which includes a goalless draw with the United States — they may have their defence penetrated under the famous arch.
Portugal were thumped 4-2 and 7-1 by Spain in their two most recent games and will be mindful that they face their Iberian neighbours in their first group game at the Euros, so Francisco Neto’s team will feel they have a point to prove.
We can expect them to go on the front foot and with England more than likely to have one eye on the more important assignment to come later in the summer, there could be goals at both ends.
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