England head into Tuesday’s second‑leg qualifier with a two‑goal cushion over Greece – but could the margin have been bigger?
After a 3‑1 win in Crete on Friday, Wiegman’s squad left Greece breathing and the coach urged greater ruthlessness in Leicester at 19:30 BST.
The Lionesses dominated possession at 74% in the first match, yet managed only three strikes from 26 attempts and slipped up in the second half, while Greece rattled the bar with a thunderous shot.
This isn’t the first occasion England have faltered in converting chances; must they tighten up now?
How solid are the Home Nations’ World Cup prospects?
Lionesses on track, Cuthbert returns, Kirby shines for Brighton
Are England creating enough?
Since the 2023 World Cup final loss to Spain, a lack of cutting edge in front of goal has lingered for England.
In that tournament they scraped through the group, edging Haiti and Denmark 1‑0 each.
The knockout round saw them survive Nigeria on penalties and overturn a deficit to beat Colombia 2‑1.
This year’s qualifiers have been steady but not effortless, with narrow victories over Iceland and Spain and a muted display versus Greece.
They still generate opportunities, recording 58 touches inside the box against Greece and 210 passes in the final third.
Midfielder Keira Walsh noted, “We played differently back then. The World Cup brings far more pressure.”
She added, “In these qualifiers, the real worry would be failing to reach the final third – that would be a bigger issue.”
“It was the last pass, the final cross, the decisive shot that missed on Friday. I see the girls nail that in training daily; they’re brilliant at it.”
“Now we just need to translate that into the match tomorrow and hope it sticks.”
Walsh called the hesitancy “frustrating” and stressed the work required before the second leg.
Arsenal’s Georgia Stanway, England’s top scorer since Euro 2025 with ten goals, has risen to the occasion.
She sits among Europe’s top three international scorers, boasting an 81‑minute‑per‑goal ratio.
Wiegman expects others to follow her lead and was explicit about areas for improvement on Monday.
“We created chances, but then we needed to stay onside, deliver the right pass at the right moment, time the run and decide on the perfect cross or cut‑back,” the Dutch coach explained.
“It also hinges on player connections in those moments and neutralising the counter‑attack threat.”
What is the solution?
The issue isn’t talent scarcity but finding the optimal roles for the squad. In my view, the squad’s depth is its biggest strength.
Chelsea’s Lauren James has shifted from winger to number 10 and even occasional centre‑forward.
Injuries to Aggie Beever‑Jones and Michelle Agyemang have left Alessia Russo largely unchallenged as the number nine.
Lauren Hemp is in fine form yet isn’t a prolific scorer, while Beth Mead splits time between midfield and attack.
Former striker Ellen White, England’s all‑time leading scorer, argues that building links and setting tempo are vital.
“You must craft your own rhythm. You can’t just whizz the ball around; midfielders need to dictate the pace,” White told the Women’s Football Weekly podcast.
“Then you need connections with nearby teammates – for example, the link between a number 10 and a number 9.”
“Fran Kirby felt like a dream partner; she always placed the ball near me, and our chemistry clicked.”
Goals are spreading, with eleven different scorers since Euro 2025.
Defenders Lucy Bronze, Jess Carter and Maya le Tissier have all found the net in the past 18 months, and the current number nine adds six more.
Nevertheless, England remain unclinical, failing to win any match when trailing since Euro 2025, suffering defeats to Brazil and Spain in those situations.
Regular starter Hemp, with 687 minutes logged, has netted just twice, while talented James has yet to score in her last 425 minutes.
A recurring issue is facing low‑block, weaker sides that prove tough to break down.
“Box‑area movement is crucial. You must be unselfish in your runs,” former midfielder Kirby told Women’s Football Weekly.
“You need behind‑the‑defence runs, even if you don’t receive the ball, to lure opponents out. One mistake creates space.”
“Pass to the player with the highest shooting percentage. Against Greece it felt rushed rather than controlled.”
“Intricacy around the box is essential.”
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