By Whatever the game, whatever the result, Georgia Stanway just keeps scoring for England. The midfielder netted in both legs of the Lionesses’ World Cup qualifying play-off against Greece, sealing a 5-0 win at the King Power Stadium and an 8-1 aggregate triumph — and earning a glowing “warrior” verdict from manager Sarina Wiegman.
Georgia Stanway (Credits: BBC Sport)
Stanway opened the scoring in the 3-1 first-leg win in Crete, then delivered again in Leicester after Wiegman had demanded more ruthlessness from her side. The 27-year-old has now scored 11 times in her last 11 appearances for England, and she ranks among the top three European players for international goals since Euro 2025.
Goals, Grit and a Disallowed Screamer
It felt inevitable that Stanway would join the party as Alessia Russo and Lauren James each grabbed doubles. She came agonisingly close to matching them when she controlled a long ball with one deft touch and fired it powerfully into the bottom corner — only for the strike to be ruled out for offside, much to Wiegman’s frustration.
Wiegman was full of praise anyway. “She is always so eager to go towards goal. She has that tenacity in her,” the England boss said. “She is always aggressive out of possession but also in possession. That was really good athleticism and composure.”
Former England goalkeeper Rachel Brown-Finnis told BBC Radio 5 Live that Stanway was “unplayable at times” in the first leg. Her numbers back that up: she won all her tackles, posted a 90% passing accuracy rate, took four shots, scored once and had another disallowed.
A Warrior Who Can Do It All
What makes Stanway so effective is her range. She played much of the second leg in a slightly different role, operating more as a right winger as Wiegman shuffled her midfield, and adapted seamlessly. “She is a warrior who you can play a possession game with too,” Wiegman said. “When you really need a fight, or a duel, or a counter-attack breaking up, she is there.”
The emergence of 20-year-old debutant Lexi Potter in midfield helped too. The Chelsea youngster provided cover that freed Stanway and Keira Walsh to push higher up, with James in the number 10 role — an inspired reshuffle from Wiegman that let Stanway cause problems all night.
As Brown-Finnis summed it up: “Stanway has shown how flexible she is, how exceptional she is both at the bottom end of the pitch, breaking up play, as well as at the top end. She has been absolutely brilliant.” England march into round two of the play-offs with their most reliable scorer in red-hot form.
Also Read: Georgia Stanway’s Free-Scoring Run Continues as ‘Warrior’ Fires England Into World Cup Play-Off Round Two | Bukayo Saka Answers Mikel Arteta’s Goal Challenge With Stunning Lille Cameo in Arsenal Win
Source: BBC Sport — read the full story there.
