England women national team, di Lionesses, don reach Crete for Greece to play di first leg of dia 2027 Women’s World Cup play-off. Di game go happen for Pankritio Stadio on Friday, 9 October, 17:30 BST.
Coach Sarina Wiegman pick strong starting XI despite injuries. Maya Le Tissier start for right-back, Laura Blindkilde Brown enter midfield. Di front three na Lauren James, Alessia Russo and Lauren Hemp. Ella Toone dey bench after dem recall am to replace Lucy Bronze.
England finish second for qualifying Group 3 behind Spain on goal difference, so dem drop to play-offs. Greece dey 55 places below England for FIFA world rankings. Greece never qualify for major tournament before. Dia closest na Euro 2025 when Belgium beat dem 5-0 for play-offs.
But Greece get 100% record for qualifying so far, na only European country wey do so. Dem beat Faroe Islands and Georgia home and away for dia group.
England never lose when dem face opponent for first time for last 41 games, winning 34. Against European nation for first competitive meeting, England unbeaten for last 15, winning 13, scoring 87 goals, conceding only three. Dia last defeat for that kind game na against France for Women’s World Cup qualifying play-off in October 2002.
Lauren James tell Sky Sports News say England no fit change wetin happen and dem just need beat Greece. ‘We can’t change what happened and that’s where we are now,’ James talk. ‘We have to just try to look forward to win these games.’ She add say World Cup na massive tournament and everybody dream to play there.
Lexi Potter also talk say she surprise when she get first England call-up. Di 20-year-old learn di news for her room for family house, then go downstairs tell her mum. ‘I was really surprised,’ Potter talk. She don play all four Chelsea victories for Women’s Super League this season and score for 2-0 win over Birmingham last month.
Georgia Stanway don score against 22 different nations for England, just two behind Ellen White and Kelly Smith wey get 24. Stanway na England leading scorer for 2027 World Cup qualifying with four goals. Lauren Hemp don create most chances (13) and attempt most dribbles (28) for any England player for di qualifying.
Over 500 England fans travel go Crete for today game. Some attend di Lionesses training session yesterday as FA allow dem enter against norm. Sarina Wiegman go greet dem after, pose for photos and thank dem for travelling. Di stadium dey very empty. Greek media disappoint say dem no hold di game for Athens.
England XI na Hampton, Le Tissier, Morgan, Williamson, Greenwood, Walsh, Stanway, Blindkilde Brown, Russo, James, Hemp. Subs na Charles, Keating, Potter, Carter, Fisk, Park, Mead, Parkinson, Moorhouse, Godfrey, Toone. Greece XI na Petaloti, Giannaka, Paterna, Markou, Gkouni-Papaioannou, Drakogiannaki, Brame, Moraitou, Papatheodorou, Brookshire, Sarri.
If England beat Greece, dem go face winner of Slovakia vs Ukraine. Second leg go hold for King Power Stadium, Leicester, on Tuesday, 13 October, 19:30 BST.
