England's women's national football team secured a commanding 5-0 victory over Greece in the second leg of their Women’s World Cup qualifying playoff at Leicester’s King Power Stadium on Thursday, sealing an 8-1 aggregate win. This result ensures the Lionesses will face Ukraine in a two-legged play-off between November and December for a place at the 2027 Women’s World Cup in Brazil.
The match marked a strong response following a 3-1 first-leg win in Crete. England started quickly, with Alessia Russo opening the scoring in the third minute after a precise pass from Lauren James. James, returning to a central attacking midfield role, scored twice in the first half, demonstrating her ability to influence the game from a different position than she occupied during the Euro 2025 campaign. Georgia Stanway and Lauren Hemp also contributed, with Stanway scoring after a cross from Hemp and James adding a tap-in shortly thereafter. Russo netted a second goal late in the match to round off the scoring.
Coach Sarina Wiegman experimented with a new lineup and formation, notably giving 20-year-old Lexi Potter her debut in midfield and deploying James at No. 10, a shift that saw Stanway move to the right wing. This adjustment broke up the often-utilized Stanway-Keira Walsh midfield partnership but appeared effective in boosting the team's attacking threat. While James’s form in this role was praised, there is discussion over whether she can sustain a central midfield role throughout a major tournament, given past injury concerns and tactical considerations. Wiegman now faces the task of deciding if this approach can be replicated against stronger opposition in forthcoming matches.
Despite England’s dominance, their route to the World Cup remains uncertain due to UEFA’s qualification format, which prevented automatic qualification after the team’s strong group stage performance—only marred by a heavy defeat against Spain. Facing a heavily ranked Greece side was expected to be a straightforward tie, but the team’s challenging start in Crete highlighted vulnerabilities that they addressed decisively in Leicester.
The upcoming play-off against Ukraine promises to be more demanding, though England hold confidence after previously beating Ukraine 6-1 and 3-0 in the qualification phase earlier this year. The Lionesses aim to carry their momentum forward to secure a place at next summer’s tournament in Brazil, further establishing their presence on the international women’s football stage.