The hosts looked the more likely to take the lead during a goalless first half, with Rooney and Kane going close, but Portugal were forced to play for over an hour with ten men after Bruno Alves saw red.
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Chris Smalling got the only goal of the game, a headed finish following a cross from Raheem Sterling late in the second half, and very few England fans who watched the game at Wembley will be confident of the side ending their 50 year wait for another worldwide title.
England completed preparations for the European Championships with a drab performance in victory over 10-man Portugal at Wembley to leave manager Roy Hodgson with more questions than answers ahead of the opening group match against Russian Federation on 11 June.
It all depends on Roy telling those players to go out express themselves, give them belief and tell them to win the game against Russian Federation, not go out with the mindset of avoiding defeat.
Perhaps the most perplexing part is that England are still looking for the right formation so close to the tournament and, in a odd way, it probably did not help Hodgson’s fact-finding exercise when Portugal went down to ten men.
The Football Association decided not to discuss a new deal for Hodgson until after Euro 2016, which begins in France on June 10, but Neville said the 68-year-old deserved an extension based on what he had achieved so far. I think it’s a fantastic group of players, young players, good players.
“I had an injury towards the end of the season, but came back with still quite a few games to play”.
The England manager will have to rethink his preparation, however, as Ronaldo will not take part in the Wembley friendly on Thursday night.
Hodgson’s squad for Euro 2016 is the youngest England have ever taken to the competition with an average age of a little over 25.
However, with the teenager now renowned for having an instant impact on the pitch (his first shot in the Premier League: a goal; his first appearance in the Europa League: two goals) he could be a risky option coming on.
“The team worries me defensively”, he said.
“I was pleased with the composure, and the way we looked to play the ball out from the back from the start”.
Rooney at the tip of a 4-4-2 midfield diamond behind Vardy and Kane appeared to be Hodgson’s latest means of shoehorning his trusted captain into the team.
“We owe those fans something”, said Neville.
“I think Rooney is taking away from Kane’s position and Alli’s position. I am not sure what system Roy is playing”, Mills told BBC Radio 5 live. “I wish him the same luck that I had”.
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The line-up contained ten changes from the side that beat Australia in Hodgson’s last chance to see his players in action before the start of the tournament.
