England’s pursuit of a spot at next year’s World Cup in Brazil reached a key milestone as they secured a 3-1 victory against Greece in the opening leg of their play-off tie in Crete. The European champions, currently navigating the qualification play-off path after finishing runners-up in their group, now prepare for the return fixture in Leicester this Tuesday at 19:30 BST. The winner of this aggregate tie will advance to meet either Ukraine or Slovakia in the second round. But given the gulf in class, Wiegman admitted frustrations at not keeping a clean sheet, a 3-1 victory is a pleasing result. There were familiar lapses in concentration defensively that gave Greece opportunities to pounce.
With regular starter Lucy Bronze sidelined by a minor injury, Manchester United captain Maya le Tissier stepped into the right-back role. Earning her 15th cap, Le Tissier delivered an impressive performance, capped by her first international goal in the 63rd minute. Head coach Sarina Wiegman praised the defender’s offensive contributions, noting that as soon as England held possession, she was active high up the pitch and consistently dangerous with her delivery into the box. The defender is a key player for her club but struggles to break into the England team with Bronze understandably a tough figure to displace. Making her 15th cap, Le Tissier was a standout performer and was rewarded with her first international goal in the 63rd minute, providing optimism for a future without 34-year-old Bronze. According to 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,”, Wiegman. I’m very happy for her and for the whole team because that was an important goal. That’s absolutely true, but at the same time we won and that’s the most important thing, of course we want to take some more distance [in the scoreline].
Despite the win, Wiegman expressed some frustration regarding the team’s defensive discipline. While the result was positive, England failed to keep a clean sheet, allowing Greece several openings throughout the match. Ioanna Papatheodorou hit the crossbar in the first half before later providing the assist for Kallisti Brouksair’s strike. These defensive errors were a source of irritation for the manager, who noted that the team played with some sloppiness that kept Greece in the contest. Sometimes we played really well and sometimes we were a bit sloppy.
Looking ahead to the second leg, Wiegman emphasized the need for a more clinical display. She stressed that while winning remains the primary objective, the team must show better consistency and control to increase their lead over their opponents. It marked only the third victory for England in their last eight competitive away matches, highlighting a need for improvement on the road.
The match also featured two international debuts as Wiegman rotated her squad late in the game. Liverpool captain Grace Fisk made her first appearance after waiting over six years for an England call-up. Joining her in the late action was 18-year-old Erica Meg Parkinson, who entered the pitch in the 85th minute. Parkinson’s rapid rise has seen her move from England’s Under-23s to the senior squad this year, following her summer transfer to North Carolina Courage.
Teammate Esme Morgan offered high praise for the teenager, highlighting her intelligence and technical comfort in tight spaces. Morgan noted that having faced Parkinson in the National Women’s Soccer League, she has been consistently impressed by her aggressive tackling, strength, and ability to win possession, marking her as a promising prospect for the future of the national side.
