Greece 1 England 3

England may have edged a step closer to booking their place at next summer’s Women’s World Cup but they do not yet look like a team who can win it.

This two-legged qualifying play-off with Greece was always going to be somewhat academic. Greece are ranked 58th in the world and have never qualified for a major tournament. But they could – and should – have taken the lead before England eventually broke the deadlock through Georgia Stanway just before half-time.

The goals flowed more freely in the second half, but Greece deservedly found the net themselves and are not yet out of the tie. There is every chance of the Lionesses winning the second leg in Leicester on Tuesday more comfortably, but not being able to put teams to the sword is exactly why they ended up in the play-offs in the first place.

The best teams are ruthless and unforgiving – and England did not display those traits here. They snatched at chances, and several players were guilty of firing wide.…