England have two jobs to do on Tuesday. The first, avoiding an almighty upset and progressing past Greece on aggregate in their Women’s World Cup playoff to reach a final qualifying tie, should be a formality for one of the world’s best-resourced teams. The second, honing a style capable of making them contenders at next summer’s World Cup in Brazil, is far trickier but crucial. Friday’s relatively uninspiring 3-1 first-leg victory in Crete left room for improvement, and England had plenty to work on as they trained at St George’s Park on Monday.
The defensive picture is the most immediate concern. Greece had only two touches in England’s box on Friday yet managed to score and hit the crossbar, while England converted 58 touches in the opposition area into three goals. Sarina Wiegman said she was not happy that her team had conceded, and the defending in June’s 4-0 defeat by Spain also left much to be desired. It feels as if England are not yet certain who should partner captain Leah Williamson at centre-back. Wiegman noted on Monday that stopping counterattacks is something they must fix, having also struggled defending quick breaks in April 2025 when they lost in Belgium. They found a way to win the Euros that year, but they will have to tighten up if they are to claim a first world title at the Maracanã in July.
The forwards, meanwhile, are not clicking. England were wasteful in the final third against Greece and it has not been an isolated problem. In their qualifying group they beat Iceland 1-0 and 2-0 in games where they should have scored more, while a ruthless Spain, ranked No 1 in the world, won 6-1 and 3-0 against the same opponent. Asked on Monday which single element of Friday’s performance she would most like to improve, Wiegman pointed to “the execution in the final third. We got in good positions but then it’s [about] staying onside, having the final pass, the right pass at the right moment, the run at the right time, and deciding what cross or cutback you’re going to choose.”
The No 10 role remains unresolved. Over the past year it has repeatedly felt as though Wiegman does not know who should start there, with Jess Park, Lucia Kendall and Laura Blindkilde Brown all given chances alongside Lauren James. Dropping and then recalling Ella Toone, plus the late addition of Grace Clinton to this squad, adds further mystery, while Erica Meg Parkinson’s debut on Friday introduced another youngster into the mix. Beth Mead can also play as a 10. Asked whether the position carried the most question marks, Wiegman said: “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.”
The right wing is similarly uncertain. Lauren Hemp’s place on the left looks nailed on after her tremendous form for Manchester City, but the opposite flank is far less settled, not least because Chloe Kelly has been left out. James, England’s most technically gifted player, would be the first choice for many, yet she can also play centrally, and the uncapped Freya Godfrey has impressed for London City Lionesses. On Friday, Blindkilde Brown started on the right before being replaced at half-time by Mead. Whoever starts, there are only a handful of matches before next summer in which to build fluidity.
There are also growing calls for youth to be given a chance. The 20-year-old Chelsea midfielder Lexi Potter is yet to make her debut, while the 21-year-old Godfrey could be in line for hers on Tuesday. Had England held a greater first-leg advantage, experimentation in Leicester would surely have been more likely, although Wiegman confirmed she would make changes. Keira Walsh said of her Chelsea teammate Potter that it was “a really good thing that she’s finally being appreciated for how good she is”, adding: “Her intelligence gives me confidence, knowing that she’s perfectly capable of stopping the counter.” Parkinson has drawn praise too, with Esme Morgan, who has faced her in the NWSL, describing the 18-year-old as a “smart player, really tidy on the ball, with incredibly good movement”. Whether Wiegman opts for youth or experience as the season progresses remains to be seen.
Off the pitch, the biggest unknown is Wiegman’s future. Her contract runs until the end of the World Cup, and there have been no reasons to suspect the squad are unsettled by the uncertainty, but the topic is likely to come up in every England press conference until there is clarity. Walsh said on Monday: “Obviously I’d want her to stay. I think everyone in England would love her to stay. I really appreciate her as a manager but it’s her decision.” Wiegman did not wish to discuss the matter, saying: “We’re only focused on Greece and I don’t want to talk about me.”