Le Tissier and Stanway happy with goals in Greece

England goalscorers Georgia Stanway and Maya Le Tissier reflected on a job well done in Crete, following their 3-1 first-leg victory in their World Cup qualifying play-off.

The Lionesses took a 3-0 lead thanks to Stanway’s first-half opener before Le Tissier netted her first goal for England which was swiftly followed by Alessia Russo’s strike.

And the squad will now return to home soil for the return leg in Leicester on Tuesday evening, where they will be looking to finish the job and take another step towards next summer’s tournament in Brazil by progressing to the second stage of the play-offs in November.

"It was difficult actually,” said Stanway. “It was bit more transitional than what we had hoped, and that's something we’ll try and minimalise going into the second leg.

"We’ll go with the lead but this is only halfway, half the job done.

“We’ll reflect on that, see where we can minimalise them and see where we can stop the transition and if we can stop it a little bit earlier at source and not give them a lifeline.”

Le Tissier echoed those thoughts, and added: "We wanted to come here and get the win. Obviously, a bit disappointed to concede a goal but it puts us in a good position going to the Leicester game on Tuesday.”

But it was Le Tissier’s goal which brought the biggest smile of the evening, when she rifled home after a run forward from her position at right-back.

"It was good,” she said.

“I didn’t really know it went in to be honest, I thought the ‘keeper saved it but I just smacked it so I’m very glad.

“It’s always good to get your first goal so I’m very happy. When I play that position, I find myself a little bit higher up so it’s definitely something to work on, but I’m happy to score my first goal.”

That scoring feeling is something which Stanway is fully used to, having just been crowned as the 2025-26 season’s top goalscorer following her nine goals last term.

She’s now up and running for the new campaign, after her tidy finish in the area opened the scoring in Crete.

"Sometimes it’s just luck and where the ball lands,” she admitted.

“I’m surrounded by great players and I’m getting chances, it probably should have been more today.

"Obviously, because they were in a low block if we can draw them out then we can try and create some space in behind.

"Probably everyone around the pitch can fill in at any position and that’s the beauty of the quality that we’ve got. Anyone can fill in anywhere.”