The opening leg will test England’s control away from home. Greece will have the advantage of familiar surroundings, while the Lionesses must manage the occasion without allowing the tie to become emotionally stretched.
A report says James accepts England cannot change their current predicament. That makes the focus straightforward: execute the basics, stay composed and bring the contest back to England with the tie still firmly in their hands.
The away match is not the final judgment, but it will establish the pressure for the second leg. A disciplined performance in Crete would give England a platform; a difficult night would make the return fixture far more demanding.
Hosting Greece four days later gives England the benefit of home support, but it also creates a sharper expectation. The King Power Stadium will be the setting for the decisive leg, where every missed chance or defensive lapse will carry greater weight because there is no later fixture to repair the damage.
For James and her teammates, the challenge is to treat the two matches as one complete assignment. The away leg requires patience, while the home fixture should demand authority. England’s attacking quality will need to be matched by defensive concentration across both nights.
The message attributed to James is simple: England cannot revisit how they arrived at the play-off. Their opportunity is now defined by the next two performances, not previous disappointment or expectation.
The first whistle in Crete will begin the story, but the decisive chapter comes at Leicester four days later. How England handle that sequence will determine whether their World Cup hopes move forward or end with regrets.