England’s women’s national football team faces a critical two-leg play-off against Greece as part of their qualification for next summer’s Women’s World Cup in Brazil. The first match takes place this evening at the Pancretan Stadium in Crete, with the return leg scheduled for Tuesday in Leicester. The stakes are high: failure to advance would exclude the European champions from the tournament, a surprising and significant setback given their status and ambitions.

The European qualifying campaign began last March, but due to the stringent format imposed by UEFA, only group winners automatically secure World Cup places. England finished second in their group behind Spain, whose superior performance, including a decisive 4-0 victory over England in Mallorca, led to their direct qualification. This result forced England into the play-offs, where they must first overcome Greece and then face either Slovakia or Ukraine to clinch a spot in Brazil.

Despite this challenging pathway, England enter the play-offs as clear favorites. They are ranked fourth in the FIFA standings, well ahead of Greece (59th) and Slovakia (54th), and have already defeated Ukraine (34th) twice during qualification. England’s head coach, Sarina Wiegman, acknowledged that while they have not previously competed against Greece, the opponent has performed strongly in their qualifying group.

England’s campaign so far has been a mixture of consistent wins and a few exposed vulnerabilities. Aside from the heavy loss in Mallorca, the Lionesses won five of their six group matches, including a notable 1-0 victory over Spain at Wembley. However, the defeat to Spain also highlighted issues with midfield control, defensive lapses, possession errors, and limited impact from substitutes—areas England will need to improve under the pressure of knockout football.

The squad selection for these matches reflects some changes aimed at addressing form and fitness concerns. Two prominent players from England’s recent Euro triumphs, Chloe Kelly and Ella Toone, were initially left out due to unsatisfactory performances, though Toone has been called up again to replace Lucy Bronze, who is sidelined with a minor injury. Kelly’s absence opens the door for 21-year-old Freya Godfrey of London City Lionesses to assume a substitute attacking role. The midfield set-up remains a subject of debate, with established players Georgia Stanway and Keira Walsh starting, but uncertainty around the third slot where a group of inexperienced players—including Lucia Kendall, Laura Blindkilde Brown, and uncapped Lexi Potter and Erica Meg Parkinson—are competing for selection. Toone’s recent recall suggests Wiegman may still consider her for the role.

While Greece does not offer the same level of challenge as Spain, England must manage expectations and the pressure inherent in play-off football. These matches will serve as a test not only of their ability to qualify but also of their capacity to overcome setbacks and demonstrate the resilience expected of title contenders on the world stage.