England head into Tuesday's second leg against Greece in their Women's World Cup playoff holding a seemingly comfortable aggregate advantage, yet the bigger task facing Sarina Wiegman's side extends well beyond securing passage to the final qualifying tie. With the tournament in Brazil less than a year away, a 3-1 first-leg win in Crete exposed as many problems as it solved, leaving the European champions with a lengthy checklist to address before next summer.
Defensive solidity remains the most pressing concern. Despite dominating possession in Greece, with 58 touches inside their opponents' box compared to just two the other way, England still conceded and saw Greece strike the crossbar. Wiegman admitted she was unhappy about the goal conceded, and the issue of defending counterattacks has resurfaced repeatedly, including in a heavy 4-0 loss to Spain in June and a defeat in Belgium last April. Questions also persist over who should partner captain Leah Williamson at centre-back. England ultimately triumphed at the Euros despite these vulnerabilities, but a World Cup final at the Maracanã will likely demand greater defensive discipline.
Attacking efficiency is another sore point. England have been guilty of squandering chances in recent outings, including narrow 1-0 and 2-0 wins over Iceland in World Cup qualifying—results that paled next to Spain's 6-1 and 3-0 demolitions of the same opponent. Speaking on Monday, Wiegman identified execution as the key area for improvement.