Portugal U21 2-0 England U21: Aidy Boothroyd’s side on the brink of another shock exit

Remarkably, England can still qualify. The other three nations in this group would surely view that unlikely turn of events as a severe injustice if it transpired.

Aidy Boothroyd’s Under 21s did not look as if they wanted to win this game, one they really had to. The issue with appearing content with a point is it usually bites you.

Difference between defeat and a draw was actually negligible for their qualification hopes. Either result dictated that Croatia had to be dealt with on Wednesday, while simultaneously praying Portugal do them a favour.

Aidy Boothroyd is staring down the barrel of a second straight group-stage exit with England

Barcelona winger Trincao put the seal on a dominant Portugal display by scoring a penalty

With that in mind, England’s lack of dare was startling, as if the concept of risk and reward did not exist. One second-half set piece, almost midway through the opposition half, saw just three England players start ahead of the ball and it ended up back with the goalkeeper seconds later.

They could well head through to the quarter-finals, and that might be viewed as progression, but they are performing so poorly. A reaction was required after Thursday and none arrived.

Slender defeat by Switzerland, one that left the England camp speechless, was limp – an insipid attacking performance than finished with them having just one shot on target.

That came via a Callum Hudson-Odoi free kick, but the Chelsea winger was missing last night with a shoulder complaint. The creative burden lay elsewhere instead and England again struggled to carve chances.

The bulk of them were at the other end, Ben Godfrey twice putting his body on the line to thwart certain Portuguese openers. Both were the result of England mistakes.

Portugal just looked slicker. Florentino Luis could not adjust his feet to convert when Aaron Ramsdale pushed away the unmarked Pote’s volley on the edge of the box from a corner. Ramsdale had earlier fluffed Thierry Correia’s long-range drive.

Dany Mota ended a swift counter-attack with a swept finish beyond Aaron Ramsdale’s reach

Giving up opportunities was to be expected given the quality inside the opposition’s ranks. Yet Boothroyd’s side did not make things particularly easy for themselves, gifting possession away in their own third on a couple of occasions. Tom Davies was fortunate that Fabio Vieira did not fully seize upon his lapse in concentration.

Going forward England resembled exactly what they were: a team that had never played with each other before. Emile Smith Rowe attempted to locate little pockets of space to fashion glimpses for his club team-mate, Eddie Nketiah, who appeared isolated, just as he was during the opener. Keeping hold of the ball proved difficult and there was an element of relying on individualism – exactly what they had hoped to avoid.

This tournament has seen three debuts in two matches and Boothroyd will point to the strong of youngsters who Gareth Southgate has called on. The most notable of those feels like Jude Bellingham at the moment as the Young Lions cry out for somebody to take charge of a game in the centre of the pitch. 

Oliver Skipp was their best player, completing his work diligently in midfield. Those ahead of him were often crowded out. Making his Under-21 bow, Noni Madueke met a stubborn Diogo Dalot, on loan at AC Milan from Manchester United. The past few days have left that lingering feeling of how much more purposeful this team might have looked if Mason Greenwood was available.

Ebere Eze gave England more of a spark – but the Three Lions did not have one shot on target

The result means England must now beat Croatia and hope other results go their way

But they cannot use absentees as an excuse. While there might have been two wingers and a roaming attacker behind Nketiah, they lacked a cohesion and an edge – even when countering at pace. Eberechi Eze’s introduction woke England up, finally someone willing to glide past markers, to drive into space without fear.

A little brighter – Madueke just off balance when firing over – yet Rui Jorge’s aide always threatened and the opener came 19 minutes after the break. Wolves midfielder Vitinha had already gone close before Portugal rapidly broke when pinching possession, Pote weighing up his options and Dany Mota passing across Ramsdale.

The game was done with 16 minutes remaining. Guehi fouled off the ball, standing on a striker’s foot, and Barcelona’s Francisco Trincao smashed the resulting penalty past Ramsdale.