That’s all for this live blog. I’ll hand you Tom Garry’s report from Stadio Pankritio. Good night!
Tom Garry
Leah Williamson and Sarina Wiegman have been deep in conversation on the field, chatting for over five minutes – a rare sight.
It felt a bit transitional, not the flow we wanted; we’ll tighten that up for the second leg.
We tried to stretch their back line, creating space. I had several chances and could’ve added another goal.
Tom Garry
England players thank the 500 travelling fans but keep celebrations low‑key, aware the display wasn’t flawless. Some positives emerge, yet many worrying lapses against a modest Greek side.
Scoring my first England goal felt great – I just smashed it in!
On the more attacking role, I enjoyed it. I love defending too and will give my best wherever I play.
We aimed to press and secure the win. Conceding hurt, but we head into Tuesday in a strong position.
Full time: Greece 1‑3 England
Mead redirects Hemp’s cross wide from eight yards; she was offside, so it wouldn’t have counted. That’s the final kick.
England enjoyed a comfortably predictable night in Crete. Stanway, Le Tissier and Russo found the net, and Kallisti Brouksair pulled one back for Greece.
If England avoid another display of ineptitude on Tuesday, they’ll move to the final playoff round, likely facing Ukraine, who beat Slovakia 3-1 away.
90+1 min: England substitution Esme Morgan out, Grace Fisk in, debuting at 28.
Four minutes of added time.
90 min: Park hits the bar! Mead threads a simple pass to Park, whose shot rattles the underside of the crossbar.
Actually, Park was offside, so the effort wouldn’t have counted.
87 min: Greece substitutions Grigoria Pouliou and Ilektra Tzourtzevits replace Sarri and Papatheodorou.
87 min Mead heads Hemp’s cross over the bar with a diving effort.
85 min: England substitution 18‑year‑old Erica Meg Parkinson debuts, replacing Lauren James.
83 min James fires another long‑range effort, this time left‑footed, drifting just wide.
79 min James delivers a lovely clipped run‑in shot from the edge of the D, sailing far wide.
78 min: Greece substitution Sofia Kongouli comes on for Eleftheria Drakogiannaki.
GOAL! Greece 1‑3 England (Brouksair 77)
Brouksair nets Greece’s first against England. Morgan let a long ball bounce, and Papatheodorou found Brouksair, who beat Williamson with a stepover and blasted a firm left‑foot strike into the far corner – excellent.
75 min Mead’s snapshot is desperately blocked by Petaloti.
73 min: England substitution Jess Park replaces Alessia Russo, who scored once. A solid night’s work.
70 min Petaloti is beaten by an angled cross from Hemp, who flicks it back into the six‑yard box, forcing her to chase it back.
69 min: Greece substitutions Eleni Saich and Georgia Chalatsogianni replace Efthimia Brame and Athanasia Moraitou.
GOAL! Greece 0‑3 England (Russo 67)
Russo scores with a precise finish, feeding off Mead’s pass, turning and low‑driving past Petaloti on the right.
65 min Mead shoots wide from 22 yards, then Stanway curls wide after England’s high press. Greece begin to tire.
Lucy Bronze would have been proud of that. Walsh receives a square pass 25 yards out, angles it and finds Le Tissier, who fires a rising drive that beats Petaloti, only to be tipped onto the roof.
GOAL! Greece 0‑2 England (Le Tissier 63)
Le Tissier smashes her first England goal!
58 min: Good save by Petaloti! James darts past defenders, slips an angled pass to Le Tissier, whose rising shot is tipped round the near post by the diving keeper.
56 min A 1‑0 away lead in a two‑leg tie is never a bad thing, though many expected England to dominate more.
It’s often like this: few goals in the first hour, then a flurry at the end.
55 min Mead is caught offside on a clever Greenwood through‑ball – a blessing, as she lost footing and only poked it straight at Petaloti.
52 min Hampton makes a simple save from a far‑post header, but it’s ruled offside as soon as the ball is dead.
50 min James curls a pass over Greece’s defence; Mead makes a good run but can’t control the awkward drop‑ball at the edge of the area.
49 min A quiet start to the second half.
46 min England make a half‑time change: Beth Mead on, Laura Blindkilde Brown off.
GOAL! Greece 0‑1 England (Stanway 39)
England take the lead with an excellent team goal.
37 min England’s half has been frustrating; passing rhythm is decent but chances are scarce.
34 min: Papatheodorou smashes the crossbar!
Papatheodorou nearly scores a spectacular goal, beating Williamson and Hemp before a flat chip from 22 yards hits the crossbar after beating Hampton.
33 min A rare Greek surge as Brouksair beats Le Tissier and sends a cross claimed by Hampton.