--- title: "England Women's World Cup playoff hopes boosted by 3-1 victory over Greece" url: https://noti.group/england-women-s-world-cup-playoff-hopes-boosted-by-3-1-victory-over/ language: en publisher: "Noti Group" section: "Sports" published: 2026-10-09T18:46:37.000Z updated: 2026-10-10T01:47:42.110Z id: 9cb1aad2-a01a-4651-aa23-e47bd050dc6d source: "The Guardian Sport https://www.theguardian.com/football/2026/oct/09/greece-england-womens-world-cup-qualifying-playoff" attribution: "Link to https://noti.group/england-women-s-world-cup-playoff-hopes-boosted-by-3-1-victory-over/ and name Noti Group when you quote or summarize this story." --- # England Women's World Cup playoff hopes boosted by 3-1 victory over Greece A 3-1 first-leg win for England has given them a significant advantage in their bid to qualify for the World Cup, but their performance was far from convincing against an unfancied opponent. England's Women's World Cup playoff hopes received a boost with a 3-1 first-leg victory over Greece, but the Lionesses' performance was far from convincing against an unfancied opponent. Georgia Stanway scored the opening goal for England in a match that pitted them against a Greek side ranked 59th in the world. The Greeks have never qualified for a major tournament and were clear underdogs going into the game. Despite this, they managed to stay in contention with a goal from Ioanna Papatheodorou. The first half was marked by England's dominance of possession, but their inability to break down Greece's deep defensive shape. The Greek team's strategy paid off initially, as they were able to absorb England's attacks and limit their scoring opportunities. England's players often seemed to be going through the motions, lacking their usual zip and urgency. The atmosphere at the match was flat, with only a few thousand fans in attendance despite free admission for all spectators. The majority of noise came from around 500 travelling England supporters, who were vocal but outnumbered by the empty seats in the stadium. The setting was unusual, with a athletics track surrounding the pitch and creating an echoey atmosphere. The Greek team's goal seemed to wake up the crowd, which had been quiet until that point. Suddenly, there was some noise from the home fans, although it was not enough to disturb the England supporters who continued to make their presence known throughout the game. England will look to build on this lead in the second leg of the playoff tie, but they will be wary of Greece's ability to cause an upset. The Greek team has shown that they are capable of staying in contention against a more fancied opponent. The initial minutes of the match were marked by a lack of real quality, with neither team able to create any substantial scoring opportunities. One notable exception was Lauren James' impressive chip from 25 yards out that seemed destined for the net, prompting a gasp of appreciation from the away fans. However, their excitement was short-lived as VAR officials intervened to rule that James had been offside when she struck the ball. This decision meant that the first half remained goalless and largely forgettable, with both teams struggling to create any meaningful chances. England's defensive line appeared untroubled for much of the match, except for a concerning moment when Greece striker Papatheodorou managed to evade Esme Morgan and Leah Williamson before unleashing a powerful shot that crashed against the bar. The ball seemed destined for the net until it rebounded off the woodwork. England's own attacking efforts had also been largely ineffective, with Laura Blindkilde Brown shooting straight at the goalkeeper and Lauren James curling a free-kick wide of the target. However, they eventually broke the deadlock when Blindkilde Brown played a quick ball to Russo, who in turn laid it off for Stanway to slot home a low finish. The Lionesses continued to dominate the World Cup playoff tie after taking a 3-0 lead, but Greece refused to give up as they pulled one back through Rangers' Kallisti Brouksair's low finish. A hopeful long ball from the Greek side was not effectively dealt with by England's defense, allowing Brouksair to capitalize on the mistake and pull his team within two goals. The goal came after a series of attacks that had been largely stifled by England's solid defense. Despite their lead, England struggled to add to their tally as they pushed for more goals. James came close with a curling shot that went narrowly wide, while substitute Jess Park's effort hit the bar in a display of the team's continued attacking prowess. Meanwhile, Erica Meg Parkinson and Grace Fisk made their senior international debuts off the bench late in the game, adding to the excitement of the match as England looked to finish strong. The Lionesses' performance was marked by their ability to create scoring opportunities despite some occasional lapses in defense. The outcome of the tie is far from certain, with Greece still very much in contention for a spot at next summer's major tournament in Brazil. If England can secure victory on Tuesday in the second leg in Leicester, they will advance to face Slovakia or Ukraine in the next round of the playoffs. The Lionesses' World Cup playoff tie is looking increasingly one-sided after a dominant performance from England. Despite being pipped to top spot in qualifying by Spain due to superior head-to-head goal difference, Wiegman's team has shown they can overcome adversity and push on in major tournaments. England will need to maintain their momentum if they are to secure victory in the second leg against Greece, who despite being unfancied, are still very much in the fight after a good performance at home. To progress to the next round of the playoffs, England must be able to improve their cohesion and fluidity with the ball, something that has been lacking in recent matches. --- Source: [The Guardian Sport](https://www.theguardian.com/football/2026/oct/09/greece-england-womens-world-cup-qualifying-playoff) Published by Noti Group: https://noti.group/england-women-s-world-cup-playoff-hopes-boosted-by-3-1-victory-over/