It was England’s first encounter with Portugal on home soil since 2002 when the nations met in Portsmouth for a 2003 World Cup qualifier, and 21 years later Sarina Wiegman’s squad marked their last fixture before boarding the plane to Australia with a stalemate.

Carter started the match in a central defensive pairing at the heart of a back four, while James was deployed on the right side of a front three. Charles was among the substitutes but was introduced at half-time and operated in the left-back position for the second half.

There was nothing to separate the sides after a goalless first half where England were denied a breakthrough by the crossbar moments before the interval. James looked threatening on the right flank but the Lionesses were missing that clinical touch in front of goal.

A tactical tweak saw James play more centrally in the second half, while Charles looked lively down the left after her introduction. Carter contributed to a clean sheet but some good Portugal defending, the woodwork and missed chances prevented England from scoring.

Before the World Cup begins, Wiegman’s side will take on Canada in a behind-closed-doors match on 14 July. We will be heavily represented when our four Lionesses meet our Canadian trio of Jessie Fleming, Kadeisha Buchanan and Ashley Lawrence.

For the tournament proper, England have been drawn in Group D alongside Haiti, China and Denmark. They begin their group-stage campaign against World Cup debutants Haiti in Brisbane on Saturday 22 July, with kick-off at 10.30am (UK time)