England's World Cup Quest: Key Takeaways from Victory in Greece
Sarina Wiegman has once again steered England into a strong position, this time in their Women's World Cup qualifying play-off against Greece. After finishing as runners-up in their group, the back-to-back European champions took a vital first-leg lead, winning 3-1 in Crete.
The Lionesses are now focused on sealing their spot in Brazil next year. They’ll host Greece in the return leg on Tuesday evening in Leicester, with kick-off set for 19:30 BST. The winner of this tie will then face either Ukraine or Slovakia for a place in the tournament.
In a notable change, Lucy Bronze had to withdraw from the squad due to a minor injury, which opened the door for Maya le Tissier, the Manchester United captain. Known for her club prowess, Le Tissier has found it tough to break into the national setup, largely due to the formidable presence of Bronze.
Wiegman opted to deploy Le Tissier as a right-back, a shift from her usual centre-back role at United. Making her 15th appearance for England, Le Tissier not only stood out but also scored her first international goal in the 63rd minute, a moment that could signal a bright future for England without the veteran Bronze.
Wiegman praised her performance, noting, "As soon as we were in possession, she was higher on the pitch and she already came close to a couple of moments with crosses. I'm very happy for her and for the whole team because that was an important goal."
Despite the 3-1 win, it marked only England's third victory in their last eight competitive away matches. Wiegman expressed some frustration over the defensive lapses that allowed Greece to capitalize. They hit the crossbar and eventually scored, leaving the door ajar for a potential comeback in the second leg.
"That's up to us. We have to show up on Tuesday, play a good game and then we should be better than Greece," Wiegman stated. "Of course we want to take some more distance [in the scoreline], that's absolutely true, but at the same time we won and that's the most important thing."
Wiegman was also able to give debuts to 18-year-old Erica Meg Parkinson and Liverpool's Grace Fisk. Fisk had waited over six years for her chance after receiving her first call-up back in 2020, while Parkinson made a rapid ascent, moving to the U.S. with North Carolina Courage this summer after impressing at the Under-23 level.
Esme Morgan commended Parkinson's intelligence and movement on the pitch, highlighting her ability to create space and win back possession. The young talent’s debut added another layer to the ongoing discussion about England's ideal number 10, a position that has seen various contenders including Chelsea's Lauren James.
James showcased her creativity against Greece, nearly scoring a stunning lob from 30 yards, only for it to be ruled offside. Wiegman has a wealth of options in that role, yet after more than a year, the question of who truly fits best remains unanswered.
Local media raised eyebrows about the match being held in Heraklion instead of Athens, and the atmosphere was somewhat subdued, with under 4,000 fans in a stadium that can hold 26,000. The Lionesses, somewhat unaccustomed to play-offs after finishing second to reigning champions Spain, needed to dig deep.
Georgia Stanway, England's top scorer this year, was pivotal, opening the scoring with a well-executed goal during a frustrating first half. Wiegman remarked on the team's struggle against Greece's disciplined approach, noting they could have easily scored more.
"I think we made it a bit harder. Greece were well prepared and disciplined. We struggled when they tried to press us," she reflected. "There are lots of things to take. I have seen some fluid moments but I want more. The final ball, final cross and the positions can be better. Of course, we are working on that. We have an opportunity to improve that on Tuesday."
