Despite playing a second string, England emerged from Group D with a 100% record thanks to Nikiti Parris’s winner and will face France next
Updated
Thu 27 Jul 2017 16.43 EDT
First published on Thu 27 Jul 2017 13.45 EDTLive feed
Key events
All of which means that England will face France in the quarters on Sunday. They haven’t beat them in their past 19 meetings. But they’re through as group winners and have every reason to be confident after a victory secured by Toni Duggan and Nikita Parris, whose goal sent Portugal on their way. Spain finish second in Group D despite losing to Scotland, who couldn’t find a second goal that would have seen them snatch a last-eight spot, and they will face Austria next. Thanks for reading. Bye.
Full-time: Portugal 1-2 England
That’s it! Despite the changes, England are the first senior team to progress from their group with a 100% record since 1982!
90 min+3: After a minor scramble in the England box, the ball’s hacked clear. Portugal pump it back into the area, but Luis’s volley’s straight at Chamberlain.
90 min: There will be three added minutes.
89 min: If Scotland score against Spain, they go through. If Portugal score here, they’re through. As it stands, it’s England and Spain.
87 min: Portugal’s last throw of the dice: Laura Luis replaces Diana Silva.
85 min: Portugal haven’t had a sniff since England’s second.
81 min: Demi Stokes replaces Toni Duggan.
80 min: Amanda da Costa replaces Suzane Pires.
79 min: Parris wins a corner for England on the right. Greenwood flashes it in, but Bassett can’t make contact at the far post.
77 min: Atunes is down after being caught in the stomach by Parris’s boot.
75 min: Potter faffs around with the ball on the left and ends up having to concede a cheap corner. Portugal take it short, though, and end up nowhere.
71 min: Portugal are annoyed play wasn’t stopped when Carney hobbled Dolores Silva. The left-back’s on her feet again now, but she’s not looking happy.
69 min: The tricky Diana Silva’s chopped down by Jordan Nobbs. Portugal have a free-kick in a shooting position. Dolores Silva curls her effort wide.
66 min: Jordan Nobbs shoots from long range. It’s over the bar.
64 min: Ana Leite replaces Carolina Mendes, Portugal’s goalscorer.
63 min: Morais is soldiering on. It’s not long before her kicking’s under the spotlight, but she passes the test, whacking the ball clear.
61 min: Morais is down now, clutching her right thigh. She’s had problems with her kicking all night.
60 min: Jordan Nobbs replaces Millie Bright.
59 min: Duggan gives chase to a long ball over the top. It’s mopped up, though.
56 min: Parris, buzzing after her goal, has a dig from 18 yards. That was travelling at high speed, but it’s blocked.
55 min: England are turning the screw a bit now, forcing set-pieces opportunities in dangerous positions. Millie Bright almost gets her head to one delivery.
51 min: As it stands, Spain, not Scotland, are going through. That’s based on a three-team mini-league. Confused? Good. Scotland still need another goal.
50 min: Portugal are down to 10 at the moment, Dolores Silva receiving treatment off the pitch.
GOAL! Portugal 1-2 England (Parris, 48 min)
Nikita Parris has done absolutely nothing. Until now. Christiansen lobs a ball forward to the striker, who uses strength and speed to bustle into the area, past the Portugal defenders, before prodding the ball underneath Morais to restore England’s lead.
46 min: Portugal get the second half underway.
Half-time: Portugal 1-1 England
A messy half draws to a close. England led early, but their defence was finally punctured by Mendes, whose goal means Portugal are sitting in second place now.
43 min: Scotland have taken the lead against Spain. As it stands, England and Portugal are going through.
42 min: The cameraman’s focusing a lot on the dugouts and fans in the stands, which tells you much about the quality of this game.
39 min: Morais charges off her line to boot a ball into the stands. If only she’d done that in the seventh minute, eh?
36 min: This is very scrappy. England don’t mind too much. Portugal’s need is greater.
32 min: A free-kick to England on the left. Greenwood swings it in and Potter glances well wide.
30 min: It’s still 0-0 in the other game. As it stands England and Spain are going through.
27 min: Christiansen’s booked. This isn’t working for England at the moment.
25 min: Now Mendes breaks down the right. Bassett cuts out her cross.
22 min: England could do with waking up. Diana Silva causes more problems on the right and her cross is just too far in front of the unmarked Mendes in the middle.
21 min: “You gotta love the curse of the MBMer, don’t you?” says JR in Illinois. “Well done. Not quite McClaren on Iceland v England but it made me chuckle nonetheless.”
20 min: Replays suggest that there was a foul on Christiansen in the build-up to Portugal’s goal. They can’t do anything about it now.
19 min: England look for an immediate response, Carney charging into space down the right. Her low cross is collected by Christiansen, who goes down on the edge of the area. Was there contact? The referee doesn’t think so. Play continues and Potter sees her shot blocked.
18 min: I’m happy to claim the assist/accept the blame for that goal.
GOAL! Portugal 1-1 England (Mendes, 18 min)
Game on! Portugal slice England open on the right, Diana Silva scampering in behind. Her initial cutback’s blocked by Bassett, but the ball rebounds to the winger and she smartly tees up Mendes, who taps in from close range.
16 min: Portugal are enjoying some possession now, but it’s largely of the sterile variety. England are well organised.
13 min: This tune’s blaring around the stadium.
11 min: There’s a sense that England’s second 11 could have some fun with Portugal here. The underdogs look extremely shaky at the back.
9 min: That was really rubbish.
GOAL! Portugal 0-1 England (Duggan, 7 min)
What a calamity at the back for Portugal! Under little pressure, Morais scuffs a dismal clearance against Toni Duggan, who was minding her own business nearby. With Portugal’s goalkeeper completely stranded, Duggan turns quickly and chips the ball into the vacant net from 20 yards.
5 min: Fara Williams reacts slowly to a loose ball in England’s half and sends Diana Silva flying on the left. She’s booked.
2 min: There are plenty of England flags in the stand opposite the camera. And one that just says LAURA.
And we’re off! England, in white shirts, get the ball rolling from right to left. Portugal are in their red shirts. Mark Sampson’s looking stern on the touchline.
The teams are out in Tilburg. Time for the anthems. Then, the football. England have a sizeable presence in the stands.
A farcical start to proceedings on Channel 4! “Momentum is key in major tournaments,” Jermaine Jenas pundits, before being cut short when water’s suddenly hosed in his face! “The sprinklers have come on!” Clare Balding says. “It’s a rogue sprinkler!” Jermaine’s okay, though. He’s just a bit of wet.
While England are all but assured of a quarter-final spot - a point will be enough and they’ll probably still top the group even if they lose here - Group D is still nicely poised. Spain and Portugal are level on three points, while Scotland still have a chance despite losing their first two matches. Scotland must beat Spain by at least two goals tonight and hope England can do them a favour by beating Portugal. That’s a tall order. Spain are talented. However they’re still vulnerable - only one goal separates them and Portugal, who could go through with a big win.
Portugal make two changes from the win over Scotland. Vanessa Marques and Amanda da Costa are out. Suzane Pires and Melissa Antunes are in.
Mark Sampson has made a Hodgson-esque 10 changes from the team that Spain, Millie Bright the only one to keep her place. It’s an understandable decision from the England manager, though. A likely quarter-final against France or Austria awaits on Sunday, so England need to keep their best players fresh.
The teams
Portugal: Morais; Borges, Rebelo, Costa, Dolores Silva; Pinto, Antunes, Pires; Mendes, Neto, Diana Silva.
England: Chamberlain; Scott, Bright, Bassett, Greenwood; Potter, Williams; Carney, Duggan, Christiansen; Parris.
Preamble
Hello. Famous last words: this should be a straightforward evening for England. After starting this tournament with a 6-0 thrashing of Scotland and a resolute 2-0 win over Spain, they’ve probably got it in them to avoid a 10-0 defeat against Portugal here. Barring a disaster, they could become the first senior England side to emerge from the group stage of a major tournament with a 100% record since 1982. Hear the Lionesses roar, Europe! Tremble at their might!
Mark Sampson isn’t taking anything for granted, mind you, even if the manager is hopeful of another clean sheet. Portugal are below Spain on goal difference, but their win over Scotland means that they have a chance of reaching the last eight, and Sampson’s wary of them locating their tournament savvy. “This is a nation that found a way to win the men’s European Championship finals last summer having won only one game – very sadly for me, as a Welshman – over 90 minutes,” cautioned Sampson. “It’s an opportunity for Portugal’s women, at their first European Championship, to qualify for the knockout rounds.”
Even England aren’t going to blow this one, though. Their goal difference is +8. What could possibly go wrong? Right?
Kick-off: 7.45pm BST.