Greece vs England Women’s World Cup playoff semi‑final, first leg – live

Good evening from the Pankritio Stadium in Heraklion, where the Sea of Crete frames the left side of the pitch and rugged mountains rise on the right. The England goalkeepers are already warming up as the sky shifts from bright blue to a gentle twilight.

According to The Guardian, the match is being played behind free tickets, yet the local crowd shows little enthusiasm – Women’s World Cup fever has yet to grip the city. A few hundred English supporters outnumber the Greek fans in attendance.

Among the England banners, club colours are on display: Chelsea, Birmingham City and Derby County flags flutter behind the goal, highlighting the strong domestic following of the Lionesses.

England coach Sarina Wiegman used the pre‑match build‑up to commend midfielder Katie Toone, praising her work ethic and recent performances, though no direct quotes were provided in the live feed.

Kick‑off is scheduled for 5.30 pm BST. Viewers can follow the match live and later find the highlights on this site.