Alessia Russo and Lauren James both scored twice, accounting for four of England’s five goals. Their combined output gave Greece a sustained threat to manage and underlined the importance of England’s leading forwards in knockout football.
Russo’s finishing and James’ individual talent offer different solutions. One can provide a focal point in the penalty area, while the other can unsettle defenders through movement and close control. Against Greece, both made the scoreboard count.
Georgia Stanway scored England’s other goal, meaning three players shared the five-goal haul. That contribution from midfield added another layer to an already productive performance.
The clean margin at home, combined with the 8-1 aggregate score, gives England clear evidence that they handled the first-round challenge without allowing the tie to become competitive. They now move forward with momentum and a platform built on goals rather than narrow progression.
The next obstacle will be Ukraine, who await in the second round. That tie should provide a more revealing test of England’s control, chance creation and defensive concentration, particularly if the margin for error becomes smaller.
England’s immediate task is to carry the ruthlessness shown against Greece into the next fixture. Russo and James have established the attacking headline, while Stanway’s goal reinforces the value of contributions from deeper areas. The Ukraine tie will show whether the Lionesses can turn an emphatic first step into a sustained run toward the World Cup.