England have begun their Women’s World Cup playoff campaign with a tense first-leg semifinal clash against Greece at the Pankritio Stadium in Heraklion, Crete. The match carries significant weight as the Lionesses attempt to avoid the fate of 2003, the last time they were eliminated from World Cup contention.
Before kickoff, the teams observed a minute’s silence honoring George Baldock, the Greece international and former Sheffield United defender who passed away two years ago at the age of 31. While the scenic backdrop of the Sea of Crete and nearby mountains provided a beautiful setting, reporters noted a surprisingly quiet atmosphere, with ticket holders described as underwhelming in their support.
Manager Sarina Wiegman made two changes to the starting lineup from the previous qualifier against Ukraine, reintroducing center-backs Leah Williamson and Alex Greenwood to the defense. Laura Blindkilde Brown also started, a move Wiegman defended by citing her ability in tight spaces and possession retention. Wiegman praised the team’s mentality, stating, “There’s a lot at stake, we know that. We want to win – but we want to play really well, too, and show who we are.”
The starting XI for England included Hampton; Le Tissier, Williamson, Morgan, Greenwood; Stanway, Walsh, Blindkilde Brown; Hemp, Russo, and James. Greece lined up in a 4-3-3 formation featuring Petaloti, Giannaka, Gkouni, Markou, and Paterna.
In related team news, Wiegman highlighted the professionalism of Ella Toone after recalling the Manchester United midfielder for this fixture. Toone had initially been omitted from the squad, a decision Wiegman attributed to a dip in performance levels, but Toone responded positively to the call-up from her training base in Spain. Wiegman noted Toone’s resilient reaction, saying, “She has the support around her too.”
Looking ahead, the second leg of this playoff tie will take place on Tuesday at the King Power Stadium in Leicester, correcting an earlier report that suggested Wembley. England, currently ranked fourth globally, face a 59th-ranked Greek side that cruised through their qualifying group with four wins. The victor of this aggregate tie will advance to face either Slovakia or Ukraine in November or December for a spot in next year’s World Cup in Brazil.
Off the pitch, wider disruptions to the women’s game were noted. The Guardian revealed that the upcoming inaugural Women’s Club World Cup, expected to be hosted in the US in January, could cause major scheduling conflicts for the Women’s Super League. Arsenal and Chelsea are anticipated to miss up to a month of domestic action, potentially missing several WSL matches and the FA Cup fourth round due to the transatlantic travel requirements.
That Women’s Club World Cup scheduling conflict sounds like a nightmare for Arsenal and Chelsea fans. Priorities, FIFA?
Wait, Leicester for the second leg? I thought everyone expected Wembley. Good to know the FA sorted that out.
Crete is stunning, but that empty stadium is worrying. Greece will feel right at home with such loud support.