The recent performance of England in the Women's World Cup qualifying play-offs has raised critical concerns about the current qualification structure. In their first round, England decisively defeated Greece with an 8-1 aggregate score, showcasing a significant gap in competition. While Greece managed a commendable home performance with a 3-1 loss, the overall outcome highlighted the inefficiency of the play-off system.

This match was not an isolated incident; Europe's elite teams faced similarly weaker opponents and achieved large victories:

• The Netherlands triumphed over Hungary with an 11-0 aggregate.
• Norway defeated Romania 8-0.
• Sweden and the Republic of Ireland crushed their rivals with 15-0 and 12-0 victories, respectively.

England's manager, Sarina Wiegman, expressed her concerns regarding the qualification process, stating, "Of course we wanted to qualify straight away, that's not the case... Uefa will review how things are set up."

Looking ahead, England faces Ukraine in another two-legged tie, having previously beaten them 9-1 on aggregate. Despite their strength, England's path to the World Cup remains complex, especially considering they performed well against higher-ranked opponents, yet were forced into the play-offs after finishing second in a challenging group.

The disparity in competition levels raises questions about the fairness of the qualification system, as teams like Germany and Japan engage in competitive friendlies while England prepares for matches against lower-ranked teams. As the landscape of women's football evolves, the need for a revised qualification process appears increasingly urgent.