England Dominate the World Cup Play-off Match with
October 11, 2026 ·
England managed to beat Greece with a score of 3-1 in the Women's World Cup play-off semi-finals, bringing strong capital for the second leg at the King Power Stadium.
England Dominates World Cup Play-off Match with
According to Sports.
Background
The win confirmed Georgia Stanway's important role in the England squad, where she scored the fifth goal in qualifying. Additionally, Maya Le Tissier's debut goal for the national team shows the depth of England's squad, which is vital for facing the challenge of the upcoming Women's World Cup.
Why this is important
England's 3-1 win over Greece in the Women's World Cup play-off semi-final was crucial for the team's confidence ahead of the second leg. With solid performances from the likes of Georgia Stanway and Maya Le Tissier, England showed great potential to go further in this tournament. This result also provides strategic advantages, because England now has strong capital to complete the task at the King Power Stadium.
Main Points
- England Dominates World Cup Play-off Match with.
- England managed to beat Greece 3-1 in the Women's World Cup play-off semi-finals, bringing strong capital for the second leg at the King Power Stadium.
- England takes control of World Cup play-off tie with dominant win in Greece - Yahoo Sports.
England will start the second leg of their Women's World Cup play-off semi-final with a comfortable lead after a 3-1 win over Greece in Crete. The team coached by Sarina Wiegman will try to complete their task when the two teams meet again at King Power Stadium on Tuesday. The winner of this match will face Slovakia or Ukraine in the next round for a place in next summer's tournament.
At the start of the match, Lauren James almost opened the scoring, but her goal was disallowed for offside. Greece threatened when Ioanna Papatheodorou hit the crossbar, before Georgia Stanway scored her fifth goal of qualifying to give England a first-half lead. Maya Le Tissier doubled England's lead by scoring her first goal for the national team, before Alessia Russo added another goal to keep England clear of Greece.
England, despite having a number of golden opportunities to win more, were given a warning that the game was not over when Kallisti Brouksair answered with a goal for Greece, reducing the deficit to two goals with their only shot on target. Before kick-off, both teams held a minute's silence in memory of Greek defender George Baldock, marking the second anniversary of his death.
England dominated possession from the start and put pressure on the hosts, with Stanway and Keira Walsh threatening the Greek goal several times. The increasing pressure from the Lionesses meant that the Greek goalkeeper, Fafailia Petaloti, had to make several saves, including pulsing Laura Blinkilde Brown and denying Le Tissier's effort.
In the 20th minute, England felt they had opened the scoring when James managed to put the ball into Petaloti's goal, but the goal was disallowed by VAR because he was offside when building the attack. The first thirty minutes of the match felt like England's attacking practice against the Greek defence, with James also missing a free-kick from an advantageous position. Greece then made a rare attack and almost stunned England in the 34th minute when Papatheodorou surged forward and fired a shot from 25 yards which hit the crossbar.
However, England finally managed to break the deadlock six minutes before halftime. A neat passing combination between Walsh, Blinkilde Brown and Russo ended up at the feet of Stanway who finished well. England gave themselves a safe distance after just over an hour of play when Walsh sent a pass to Le Tissier who managed to fire into the near corner of the goal. Greece began to tire and England increasingly controlled the match. The third goal came when Beth Mead, who came on as a substitute, showed good individual skill to create a chance for Russo who calmly finished.
Greece again provided a bit of hope by scoring through Brouksair who fired the ball past Hannah Hampton into the corner of the net, reminding England that this game was not over yet. England almost restored their three-goal lead, but Jess Park's shot hit the crossbar.
What happened next
The second leg at the King Power Stadium will be a crucial moment for England to ensure their place in the upcoming Women's World Cup. Facing Slovakia or Ukraine in the next round, England is expected to be able to maintain this positive momentum. With consistent performance, Sarina Wiegman's team has a great opportunity to continue their journey in the next summer tournament.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the score of England vs Greece?
England won 3-1 over Greece.
How will this result impact England's position in the table?
England have a comfortable lead after this win in the second leg of the Women's World Cup play-off semi-finals.
Who scored the goal for England in this match?
Georgia Stanway, Maya Le Tissier and Alessia Russo scored for England.
When is the next second leg between England and Greece?
The second leg match will take place on Tuesday at the King Power Stadium.
What happened before the kick-off of this match?
Before kick-off, both teams held a minute's silence in memory of Greek defender George Baldock.