Match Summary

England Team

Portugal Team

With the Young Lions eager to impress, England roarded into this friendly with the amalgamation of pace and technique that has been the hallmark of Sven's finest teams.

Alan Smith and Michael Owen have known each other since their days at The FA National School at Lilleshall and there were clear signs  that this was a reuninion that they both relished. Yet, despite England's initial ascendancy, Baia was rarely troubled, with Nicky Butt's blocked effort on 16 minutes being an islated effort on goal. 

After a bright opening period for the home side, it was Portugal who took the initiative as the half progressed. Fleet of foot and imaginative in their play, they took the game to England, allowing Figo, their jewel in the crown, the licence to drift his sublime skills across the entire width of the Villa Park pitch.

However, with players of the vision of Figo, Rui Costa and Gerrard all out there, it was David James who produced the ball of the day to set up England's goal on 39 minutes. His outstanding 45-yard throw found Emile Heskey in significant space on the left. 

The Liverpool man stride forward before finding Owen, who changed the point of attack to find debutant Lee Bowyer on the right. The Leeds midfielder looked up and instintively found the run of his club-mate Smith, who opened his England scoring account in emphatic style, diving to power home a header at the near post.

Sven made several changes at half-time and perhaps the team were still aquainting themselves with the sight of David Dunn and Jonathan Woodgate patrolling their stations in the heart of midfield and defence, when two early corners saw the Portuguese rattle both bar and post.

England's young pretenders may not know fear but they do exhibit considerable flair and it was a shame that a wonderful 69th-minute move involving Wayne Bridge, Dunn and Joe Cole did not result in what would have been a picture goal for Heskey. His powerful finish may have arrowed narrowly past the post but the move certainly hit the spot for the Villa Park full-house that had turned out for a glimpse of this new look England side.

Crowds all around the country make no secret of their affection for Joe Cole and the little magician nearly sneaked his first England goal with a right-foot snapshot following more good work from Smith.

However, though the new breed has much promise, they will also do well not to forget some of the older values of the English game - namely defensive organisation and strength at set-pieces. Both were marked by their absence when, with 12 minutes remaining, Costinha rose unchallenged at the far post to head home the vistors' equaliser with a degree with aplomb. - The Football Association Yearbook, 2003-04, p40.

Source Notes

BBC Sport
TheFA.com
The Football Association Yearbook 2003-04
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CG