Alessia Russo and Lauren James each scored twice as England secured a 5-0 victory over Greece in their World Cup qualifying play-off second leg, confirming their place in the next round against Ukraine. The Lionesses had already taken a 3-1 lead from the first leg, but Russo acknowledged that the team wanted to improve their performance and were pleased with their ruthless approach in the return fixture.
“We were happy with the first game, getting the win, but there were some things we wanted to work on and I think we saw that tonight,” Russo said. “We were ruthless early on and nice for a couple to get their debuts too.”
Georgia Stanway also contributed a goal as Sarina Wiegman’s side put on a dominant display at home, showing clear development from their previous encounter. Wiegman expressed satisfaction with the improvements she observed. “I saw a lot of good things,” the England manager said. “We wanted to do things better than Friday. I think we’ve shown a lot better. There’s always improvements but we scored some great goals. We got the first goal very quickly and that’s very helpful. We had some more big chances, of course we want to be ruthless all the time, but 5-0 is a pretty good score.”
The early goal set the tone for the match, allowing England to control the game and create numerous chances. The team’s ability to maintain pressure and capitalize on opportunities impressed both players and coaching staff. Wiegman emphasized the importance of consistency going forward, while Russo looked ahead to the upcoming challenge against Ukraine in the next qualifying play-off.
“It was tough against them also. It took us a while to break them down,” Russo said. “We’re happy with tonight, we’ll get back to club football and then all eyes on Ukraine and we want to qualify for the World Cup.”
England’s win guarantees them a spot in the next stage of qualification for the 2023 Women’s World Cup, where they will face Ukraine in what is expected to be another demanding fixture. The Lionesses demonstrated attacking flair and defensive solidity in the 5-0 result, a sharp contrast to the more cautious approach in the first leg.
The match also saw a few players earn their first international appearances for England, adding further depth to the squad. Wiegman’s decision to integrate new talent reflects her strategy of blending experience with fresh energy as the team pushes toward the World Cup.
With the tie wrapped up comfortably, England now turns its attention to the next challenge. The Ukrainian side will provide a stern test in the battle for World Cup qualification, but the Lionesses will carry forward the confidence gained from their emphatic win over Greece.
According to Yahoo Sports.