Sarina Wiegman praised Ella Toone for her positive attitude after being omitted from the initial squad for England’s Women’s World Cup playoff against Greece. Following an injury to Lucy Bronze, Wiegman called up Toone, who had been training in Spain during the international window.

Toone, a Manchester United midfielder with 69 caps and 24 goals, expressed her commitment to improving after being left out due to performance levels not meeting Wiegman's expectations. Following Manchester United's victory over Liverpool, Toone stated, “It’s about me now. I’ve got to keep working hard and use it as fuel to come back even better.”

Wiegman acknowledged Toone’s response, noting her disappointment but immediate determination to refocus. She remarked, “That answer in the game, also the way she spoke about it, I thought that was really good.” Toone's experience played a crucial role in her selection over a replacement right-back as England prepares for the first leg in Heraklion, Crete.

As the European champions, England aims to secure a strong lead against Greece before the return leg in Leicester. To qualify for the finals in Brazil, they must first overcome Greece and then face either Slovakia or Ukraine in December.

With Greece yet to qualify for a major tournament, they are expected to adopt a defensive strategy. Esme Morgan, an England defender, emphasized the importance of patience and sticking to their game plan, recalling a similar experience against Ukraine in qualifying where persistence led to a breakthrough after a challenging first half.