England secured a 3-1 victory over Greece in the first leg of their Women's World Cup playoff. Goals from Georgia Stanway, Maya Le Tissier, and Alessia Russo put England in a strong position, although Greece's Ioanna Papatheodorou scored, keeping the tie competitive ahead of the second leg. Despite the win, England's performance lacked the expected dominance against a lower-ranked opponent.
The match saw a sparse crowd, with many England fans present, and England's tactical approach included a back three in possession. The team will need to improve their cohesion and fluidity in the second leg to secure their spot in the World Cup next summer in Brazil.