Match Summary

Portugal Team

England Team

England launched their preparations for Euro 2004 with a hard-fought draw against hosts Portugal as Luiz Felipe Scolari's men were forced to come from behind in Faro.  Defender Ledley King, making his first senior start for his country, helped put the visitors ahead two minutes after half-time when a David Beckham free-kick [was bundled in by Miguel, pressured by King] past goalkeeper Ricardo.

But the home side, who, like England, have high hopes of European Championship glory in the summer, hit back 20 minutes from time when striker Pauleta curled an unstoppable free-kick past David James.  In a game of few chances, the result was just about right, although it will perhaps be England coach Sven-Göran Eriksson who will be more satisfied after avoiding successive defeats for the first time in his reign despite seeing his squad disrupted by injury and non-availability.

Portugal, celebrating Figo's 100th cap and a big night at the new Estádio Algarve, started with the kind of swagger which has characterised their golden generation to put England under pressure from the off.  Rui Costa reveled in the space afforded him behind lone frontman Pauleta in the now traditional 4-2-3-1 formation as Figo and the pacy Sabrosa Simão provided the width and most of the threat.  For almost half an hour, an England back four which lined up with perhaps only one of the men who will be in the starting line-up for the Euro 2004 opener against France, Ashley Cole, found the going tough with Cole and right-back Phil Neville struggling to get to grips with Figo and Simão.

It was Cole's fifth-minute error which led to the home side's first chance when his weak clearing header fell to Figo, who drove in a first-time volley which David James did well to turn away.  The Arsenal full-back's evening ended after just 18 minutes when he limped off to be replaced by Wayne Bridge, but as he made way, a recovery was already underway.  Much of the focus before kick-off had surrounded King's inclusion in central defence amid an injury and suspension crisis, but he certainly did not look out of place as, aided by the experienced Gareth Southgate, he grew in stature from the moment he dispossessed Pauleta as he attempted to collect Figo's seventh-minute cross.  However, the Real Madrid superstar came within inches of opening the scoring on 23 minutes after Southgate was harshly penalised for a foul on Simão 20 yards out, his free-kick curling just wide with James beaten.

Eriksson's side had hardly ventured out of their own half to that point despite the probing's of Frank Lampard down the left and skipper David Beckham had seen precious little of the ball on the opposite flank, but as the half wore on, they started to enjoy some success.  Wayne Rooney might have done better to capitalise on Fernando Couto's 28th-minute slip, but he miscontrolled and the chance went begging, and Michael Owen lifted an acrobatic volley high over seconds later after exchanging passes with Paul Scholes.  Owen failed to get in a meaningful shot under pressure from Petit after collecting Beckham's pass nine minutes before the break and Rooney was marginally offside as he ran beyond last man Costinha on to Lampard's 44th-minute pass, but England were improving.

Eriksson made three changes at the break as Danny Mills, Kieron Dyer and Joe Cole replaced Neville, Scholes and Lampard, but it was one of Portugal's host of substitutes who found himself in the thick of the action within two minutes of the restart.  Miguel, a replacement for Paul Ferreira, made a mess of cutting out Beckham's deep free-kick to open the scoring, although it was thought that the last touch came from King's knee.  James almost gifted the home side an equaliser within two minutes when he fumbled a high ball and needed Southgate's help to spare his blushes, but Bridge might have made it 2-0 on 54 minutes after turning smartly on Cole's pass and shooting across the face of goal.

Rui Costa's influence having waned, he was replaced by Tiago on 61 minutes with Scolari's side needing fresh inspiration, although Figo, who was shortly to make way for Luis Boa Morte, was guilty of wasting a good opportunity two minutes later when he delivered a cross behind Pauleta after being set away by Manchester United midfielder Cristiano Ronaldo.  However, the Portuguese were back on level terms with 20 minutes remaining when, after Hungarian referee Viktor Kassai had awarded them a free-kick 20 yards out, Pauleta curled a superb free-kick past James and into the top corner.  Dyer handed Cole the opportunity to make a name for himself 11 minutes from time when he squared for him to shoot, but Ricardo saved with his legs. 

The game became increasingly disjointed as the wave of substitutions - Portugal changed their entire outfield starting line-up - continued, and apart from a late effort by Deco, which flew wide, there was little to trouble either keeper as the clock ran down. - BBC Sport

Source Notes