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

A mercurial Lauren James scored two and provided an assist in a thrilling four-goal first 45 minutes against Greece, as England put themselves two games away from securing their place at the World Cup.

James’s double was matched by Alessia Russo, who scored either side of the break, and her Arsenal ­teammate Georgia Stanway was also on the scoresheet, with the Lionesses setting up a playoff final against Ukraine in November and December. It was a clinical and slick statement from England, albeit against a team they should bypass with ease.

Any Greek hopes of arriving in Leicester and launching a Trojan horse-style smash and grab, after a hugely impressive performance in their 3-1 defeat by an ­unconvincing Lionesses team in Crete, were quickly dashed.

Related: England v Greece: Women’s World Cup qualifying playoff, second leg – live

Sarina Wiegman had said on the eve of the game that she wanted to see improvement in the final third. In the King Power Stadium, which had a club vibe to it before kick-off as dance remix after dance remix blared out, the Lionesses responded to their manager’s call, Russo producing the first goal from the first shot and first attack in the third minute.

James was the architect, the ­Chelsea player driving forward and picking out the No 9, who shrugged clear of Eleni Markou’s challenge before firing a low shot in.

It was Russo’s fourth goal in four games for club and country, with the Arsenal forward having gone five Women’s Super League games without a goal before this run, and it was a sign of things to come from a team keen to shake off criticism of their lack of ruthlessness.

James was in majestic form, her injury worries behind her this season, and England fans were treated to a glimpse of what they missed at the Euros in Switzerland in 2025, when a less than half-fit James struggled and looked frustrated as her body failed to meet her demands on it.

James has said that the best is yet to come from her and Wiegman agreed. “I think so,” said the manager. “She was really enjoying herself, scored some great goals, but also picked up some great positions. I thought she looked really fresh and played well.”

On the Chelsea forward’s use more centrally, having previously been preferred in a wider role, Wiegman said: “As a winger or inverted winger she does similar things. She can play any position up front, right or left, because she’s right- and left-footed. When she plays on the outside she also gets the opportunity to come inside, and I think she can do both things then, and that’s when she comes to life.”

James delivered England’s ­second and fourth in Leicester, her two first-half goals sandwiching ­Stanway’s header into the far corner from ­Lauren Hemp’s chipped cross.

For her first, the 25-year-old ­cushioned Maya Le Tissier’s pass before sending a rising drive goalwards with her left foot. Her second was far simpler, the unmarked forward turning in Hemp’s ball from close range.

Job well and truly done, James was withdrawn at half-time in favour of Beth Mead, Wiegman’s jewel safely nestled back in a velvet pouch after shining so brightly.

Wiegman leapt on the opportunity presented by the 7-1 aggregate scoreline to rotate ­further at the hour mark, with Niamh Charles, Jess Park and Freya Godfrey given a chance to demonstrate why they should be on the plane to Brazil should England overcome Ukraine.

Whether the changes took the sting out of the game or England just eased back on the intensity given the margin did not really matter because the home team remained in complete control of the ball. Their more than 50-place superiority in the Fifa world rankings was far more ­evident in Leicester than it had been in Heraklion.

Russo was the beneficiary of ­England’s patience as the clock ticked down, collecting Keira Walsh’s angled pass before she raced clear, stepped around Styliani ­Katergiannaki in the Greece goal and rolled the ball into the empty net.

“I think today we played a lot better,” said Wiegman. “We totally dominated the game … As soon as we got in behind and we scored that goal that helped and I think after that we were really, really good in the final third.”

Ultimately, despite the performance put on there is very little to be learned from a game against a team so far below England’s level. Any slip-up would only ever have been of England’s own making, as the poor defending for Greece’s goal in Crete demonstrated. However, perhaps that sluggishness could be ­attributed to a rustiness after a four-month break from international football.

Ukraine are up next, the homeless team preparing to face the European champions after a 4-1 aggregate defeat of Slovakia.

England met Ukraine in their World Cup qualifying group earlier in the year and secured a 9-1 margin across the two matches, so it would take the most almighty of collapses for the Lionesses to fail to book their place in Brazil now.

Melissa Andreatta claims her Scotland side “stuck to our principles” in the 3-2 win over Czechia which booked a place in round two of the Women’s World Cup play-off against Sweden.

Leading 2-0 from the first leg of the round one play-off but losing Caroline Weir to an injury in the warm-up at St Mirren’s Marbill Coaches Stadium, Scotland found themselves a goal down in the third minute when the Czechis full-back Denisa Vesela sent a shot from 30 yards soaring over a helpless Sandy MacIver. That lead lasted only two minutes before Lauren Davidson clipped in an equaliser from 12 yards but the visitors steeled themselves again and in the 32nd minute Klara Cahynova headed in a corner from Michaela Khyrova.

However, Kathleen McGovern levelled early in the second half following a botched clearance by the Czechia defender Lucie Bendova and in the 72nd minute, when Barbora Votikova, the visiting goalkeeper, spilled a cross from the substitute Erin Cuthbert, Christy Grimshaw was on hand to lift the ball over the line and the home side ran out deserved winners.

The Scots will take on Sweden, who beat Lithuania 10-0 on the night and 15-0 on aggregate, in a two-legged tie with the matches taking place between 26 November and 5 December, with Scotland at home first.

Andreatta told BBC Scotland: “What it showed is what Scotland’s all about.

“We stuck to our principles, ground out a result and that puts us in a good place for what’s ahead. I think these two games being so tough and testing us in all different ways, gives us the confidence to go again against Sweden."

Wales took a step towards qualifying for the Women’s World Cup for the first time after a 3-0 win over Albania at Parc y Scarlets. Rhian Wilkinson’s side, who won the reverse fixture 1-0 in Shkoder last week following Ezmiralda Franja’s own goal, also set a new national record after extending their unbeaten run to 10 matches.

Any nerves on the night were eased when Mayzee Davies headed home in the 34th minute, while Elise Hughes and Hannah Cain struck after half-time to seal a comprehensive 4-0 aggregate triumph. Wales will next take on Norway in their playoff final in December for the right to head to Brazil next year. Norway sit 13th in the world rankings, 18 spots higher than Wales. 

Kess Elmore marked her first Northern Ireland start with a goal but could not prevent them from falling to a 3-1 loss to Portugal, completing a 7-1 aggregate defeat in their playoff. 

The Republic of Ireland put Kazakhstan to the sword again, claiming a 12-0 aggregate win to move closer to qualifying. An 8-0 victory in last week’s first leg in Astana meant the Republic were all but home and hosed.

Jessie Stapleton bagged the Republic’s final goal in the Kazakh capital and the Leicester defender opened the scoring just before half-time, while Katie McCabe struck just after the interval. The substitute Lucy Quinn and Denise O’Sullivan were also on target as the Republic cruised into the play-off final, where they will take on Poland across two legs in December.  Press Association