England’s Women Face Tactical Tests Ahead of Greece Playoff and 2027 World Cup

England enter the two-legged Women’s World Cup playoff against Greece needing to protect a 3-1 first-leg lead earned in Crete. The victory was described as “relatively uninspiring,” leaving room for improvement before the decisive second leg. In the first leg England recorded 58 touches inside Greece’s penalty area and converted three of them, while Greece managed only two touches in England’s box but still forced a goal and struck the cross-bar. The squad’s defensive lapses were also evident in a 4-0 loss to Spain in June and in earlier struggles against quick counter-attacks in April 2025.

The Guardian

Head coach Sarina Wiegman identified defending against counter-attacks as a priority, noting that the team “must fix” this weakness. She also expressed dissatisfaction with the number of goals conceded in recent matches, including the loss to Spain. The uncertainty surrounding the central defensive partnership for captain Leah Williamson was flagged as another area needing clarity.

The Guardian

The No 10 role has generated the most debate. Options being considered include Jess Park, Lucia Kendall, Laura Blindkilde Brown, Lauren James, and the recently added Grace Clinton. In the right-wing slot, the exclusion of Chloe Kelly and the half-time substitution of Blindkilde Brown for Beth Mead illustrate ongoing experimentation. Young talents such as 18-year-old Erica Meg Parkinson and 20-year-old Lexi Potter have also drawn praise, with teammate Keira Walsh highlighting Potter’s intelligence and defensive capability.

The Guardian

Wiegman reiterated that the squad’s depth allows for multiple tactical approaches and that upcoming matches will be used to refine cohesion before the World Cup in Brazil next July. Keira Walsh publicly voiced support for Wiegman’s continued tenure, stating she would like the coach to remain through the tournament and that the team would welcome her staying.

The Guardian

• “There’s a lot of competition on that position, where we have a lot of options, which also means, tactically, we can do different things. You can call it a ‘question mark’ – I call it many options.” — Sarina Wiegman — Sarina Wiegman

The Guardian