Georgia Stanway stars as Lionesses seal World Cup playoff win
Georgia Stanway shines in midfield as England beat Greece 8-1 on aggregate to advance in 2027 Women's World Cup qualifiers.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
- Georgia Stanway scored across both legs as England defeated Greece 8-1 on aggregate.
- Manager Sarina Wiegman praised the midfielder's versatility and warrior-like mentality.
- The victory sends the Lionesses through to the second round of World Cup qualifying.
England women's national football team put on a dominant display at the King Power Stadium under manager Sarina Wiegman, securing an 8-1 aggregate victory over Greece to progress in the 2027 Women's World Cup qualifiers. At the heart of this success was 27-year-old midfielder Georgia Stanway.
Stanway opened the scoring during the first leg in Crete as England claimed a 3-1 win. When Wiegman demanded greater ruthlessness for the return fixture in Leicester, Stanway delivered once again, nearly adding to the scoresheet after Alessia Russo and Lauren James netted two goals each, though a brilliant strike was controversially ruled out for offside.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
Her standout performance drew high praise from former England goalkeeper Rachel Brown-Finnis, who told BBC Radio 5 Live that Stanway was virtually unplayable, highlighting her 90% passing accuracy and tireless defensive work.
Wiegman's tactical tweak, which introduced 20-year-old debutant Lexi Potter to anchor the midfield, allowed experienced players like Stanway and Keira Walsh to push further forward and create constant danger for the visitors.
"She is always aggressive out of possession but also in possession. She scored a great header and controlled that really good ball."
Sarina Wiegman
Sarina Wiegman's tactical experiments, such as deploying debutant Lexi Potter in a deeper role, demonstrate a clear effort to maximize the flexibility of key players like Georgia Stanway. This adaptability will be crucial as the Lionesses prepare for their upcoming playoff matches against Ukraine later this year in pursuit of a spot at the 2027 World Cup in Brazil.
The Lionesses still have work ahead of them as they face a two-legged playoff tie against Ukraine later this year to secure their ticket to the 2027 Women's World Cup in Brazil, with Wiegman's tactical trials pointing toward a promising future.
Source: BBC Sport
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