Greece v England: Women’s World Cup playoff semi-final, first leg – live

⚽ World Cup qualifying news, 5.30pm BST kick-off in Crete⚽ Wiegman hails Toone | And read Moving the GoalpostsSarina Wiegman makes two changes, both in defence, from England’s previous World Cup qualifier against Ukraine in the summer. Leah Williamson and Alex Greenwood return in place of Jess Carter and Niamh Charles.Greece (4-3-3) Petaloti; Giannaka, Gkouni, Markou, Paterna; Drakogiannaki, Brame, Moraitou; Sarri, Papatheodorou, Brouksair. Continue reading…

Sarina Wiegman makes two changes, both in defence, from England’s previous World Cup qualifier against Ukraine in the summer. Leah Williamson and Alex Greenwood return in place of Jess Carter and Niamh Charles. Greece (4-3-3) Petaloti; Giannaka, Gkouni, Markou, Paterna; Drakogiannaki, Brame, Moraitou; Sarri, Papatheodorou, Brouksair. Subs: Giannakouli, Katergiannaki, Ntarzanou, Theodoraki, Kapnisi, Chalatsogianni, Tzourtzevits, Saich, Rapani, Pouliou, Tsela, Kongouli. England (4-3-3) Hampton; Le Tissier, Williamson, Morgan, Greenwood; Stanway, Walsh, Blindkilde Brown; Hemp, Russo, James. Subs: Keating, Moorhouse, Charles, Potter, Carter, Fisk, Park, Mead, Parkinson, Godfrey, Toone. Referee Martina Molinaro (Italy). The last time England failed to qualify for the World Cup was in 2003.

They had the misfortune to be drawn in the same group as Germany, the Netherlands and Portugal, with only the top team going through – no playoffs, no second chances. Germany won all six games in qualification – and all six at the actual tournament in the United States. They became world champions for the first time and retained the trophy in 2007. Sarina Wiegman heaped praise on Ella Toone for her positive reaction to being left out of England’s initial squad for their Women’s World Cup playoff against Greece,