Whatever the game, whatever the result, Georgia Stanway always seems to score for England. Her strikes over the last five days capped a season in which she finished as England's top scorer and netted 11 times in her last 11 matches. She also ranks inside the top three for most goals scored by European players in international football since Euro 2025.
While Sarina Wiegman was frustrated by her side's lack of ruthlessness in Greece, Stanway always looked dangerous. In Leicester, Alessia Russo and Lauren James each grabbed a double. Stanway came close to matching them when she coolly controlled a long ball inside the box with one deft touch and fired a powerful strike into the bottom corner. The effort was ruled out for offside, much to Wiegman's dismay.
"She is always so eager to go towards goal," said the England boss. "She has that tenacity in her." Former England goalkeeper Rachel Brown-Finnis told BBC Radio 5 Live that Stanway was "unplayable at times" against Greece, winning all her tackles, completing 90% of her passes, and scoring once. Stanway played more as a right winger for much of the match, a role Wiegman praised: "She is a warrior who you can play a possession game with too."
England still face a two-legged play-off tie against Ukraine at the end of the year to qualify for the 2027 Women's World Cup in Brazil. Wiegman admitted the midfield balance had been impressive and suggested the experiment could become an option for the future.
Source: BBC Sport Football · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing