England’s blunt attack leaves Greece with hope in World Cup play-off

Wiegman demands sharper finishing as England prepare for Greece

England carry a two-goal advantage into Tuesday’s Women’s World Cup qualifying play-off second leg against Greece, but the Lionesses’ 3-1 win in Crete has done little to quiet concerns about their finishing.

Sarina Wiegman’s team had 74% possession and took 26 shots in Friday’s first leg, yet scored only three times and conceded after the break. Greece also struck the crossbar, leaving England aware that a more clinical performance is needed in Leicester.

Chance creation is not the main concern

England registered 58 touches in the opposition penalty area and completed 210 passes in the final third against Greece. Midfielder Keira Walsh said the greater worry would be if the team were not reaching dangerous areas, identifying the final pass, cross and shot as the parts that failed to click.

“It's the final pass, final cross and final shot. That was what was missing [on Friday],” Walsh said, adding that the team must reproduce in the match what it shows in training.

Wiegman also pointed to the details behind missed opportunities: staying onside, choosing the right pass, timing runs and deciding whether to cross, cut the ball back or aim for the far post. She said improving those moments also depends on players building stronger connections and limiting the threat of counter-attacks.

Goals are spread around, but key attackers have been quiet

Georgia Stanway has been England’s leading scorer since Euro 2025, with 10 goals, while 11 different players have scored for the team over that period. Alessia Russo has contributed six, and defenders Lucy Bronze, Jess Carter and Maya le Tissier have also found the net.

But other attacking options have not consistently turned their influence into goals. Lauren Hemp has scored twice in 687 minutes, while Lauren James has gone 425 minutes without scoring. Injuries to Aggie Beever-Jones and Michelle Agyemang have also left limited competition for Russo in the centre-forward role.

Former England striker Ellen White and ex-midfielder Fran Kirby have stressed the importance of rhythm and coordinated movement around the box. Kirby said England need runs that draw defenders out and more patience in possession, arguing that attacks against compact opponents should be controlled rather than rushed. Beth Mead, who came on as a substitute in the first leg, is among the players England could look to as they seek a more effective final-third performance.

England have previously found it difficult to break down opponents defending deep, and their recent struggles to recover after falling behind underline the value of taking chances early. With a place in the next stage at stake, Wiegman wants the Lionesses to turn their territorial advantage into a more decisive result.