Toone's Resilience Shines as Lionesses Gear Up for Greece Clash

Ella Toone is back in the England squad, and her journey to this point is a testament to her character. After being initially overlooked for the Women’s World Cup playoff against Greece, the Manchester United midfielder has been recalled for the crucial first leg in Heraklion, Crete. Toone's call-up came after a minor injury to Lucy Bronze, prompting the England right-back to return to Chelsea. Wiegman, impressed by Toone's dedication during her time in Spain, decided to bring her along for the trip. With 69 caps and 24 goals, including key strikes in the Euro 2022 final and the 2023 World Cup semi-final, Toone has proven her worth. However, Wiegman had previously left her out, citing that her performance levels hadn’t met expectations. Nevertheless, after Manchester United's recent win over Liverpool, Toone took it in stride, stating, "It’s about me now. I’ve got to keep working hard and use it as fuel to come back even better." Wiegman noted Toone's impressive response to the setback. "Yes, very much,” she said when asked about her reaction. “When I gave her the call, it was tough. But she accepted it right away, showing disappointment yet immediately focusing on her comeback. She had strong support around her too.” The England head coach acknowledged Toone’s maturity in addressing her omission. “Her comments after the game were excellent. The way she prepared for training in Spain really impressed me. Well done, I would say.” Toone’s experience is a valuable asset as England looks to establish a solid first-leg advantage against Greece, with the return leg set for Tuesday in Leicester. To qualify for the finals in Brazil next summer, they must first conquer Greece and then face either Slovakia or Ukraine in a two-leg playoff in December. Kick-off for the match at Pankritio Stadium is at 5:30 PM BST, and England, despite their playoff position, are favored to win. They entered this phase after a strong qualifying campaign, winning five out of six matches in a group topped by Spain, the reigning champions. On the other hand, Greece has never qualified for a major tournament and will likely adopt a defensive strategy against the Lionesses. Defender Esme Morgan emphasized the need for patience and resilience, recalling a similar experience during their qualification match against Ukraine. "We had to keep our composure despite not breaking through early on. The key was trusting our game plan and not getting frustrated," she said. As the Lionesses prepare for this important clash, the focus will be on execution and maintaining confidence in their abilities.