James and Russo lead rout of Greece as ruthless England set up Ukraine playoff

England secured an emphatic 5-0 victory over Greece at the King Power Stadium to advance 8-1 on aggregate in their Women's World Cup playoff semi-final. Lauren James and Alessia Russo each netted twice, alongside a goal from Georgia Stanway, as the Lionesses dominated throughout. The win sends Sarina Wiegman's side into a decisive two-legged playoff final against Ukraine scheduled for November and December.

After a tight first leg in Crete, England displayed ruthless efficiency in Leicester, starting with Russo's early strike in the third minute. James delivered a standout performance with two first-half goals and an assist before being substituted at the break. Manager Sarina Wiegman praised the team's commanding play in the final third as England moved within two games of qualifying for the 2027 tournament in Brazil.