77′ | Stanway 39’, Le Tissier 63’, Russo 67’)

HERAKLION – Crete is said to be an island of Labyrinths, where in ancient lore King Minos built the first inescapable maze 3,500 years ago. With a 3-1 victory over Greece in the first leg of their World Cup qualifying play-off, the Lionesses will hope their road to Brazil is a little more straightforward. 

England were dominant, if pedestrian, in a match they were always expected to cruise through. They found themselves here in the first place only by virtue of finishing as runners-up in the groups, but they have to earn their place at next summer’s tournament and still have work to do.

It will nevertheless be advantage Lionesses when they head to Leicester to finish the job on Tuesday. Georgia Stanway opened the scoring with her fifth goal in qualifying after impressive build-up play from Alessia Russo, Keira Walsh and Laura Blindkilde Brown. From then on, there was little doubt that England would eventually turn the screw.

If they had any qualms about the complex process that led them into this double-header (only one team in League A qualified automatically, and England were in a group with world champions Spain), then this was at least an opportunity for Sarina Wiegman to iron out some problem positions.  

We are still not much closer to finding out who might start at No 10 next summer. Despite Ella Toone’s 11th-hour call-up after initially being dropped alongside Chloe Kelly, the Manchester United midfielder did not feature. Blindkilde Brown ended up drifting out to the right, Erica Parkinson made a late cameo, and Lauren James alternated between the left and central roles.

An experimental formation almost paid dividends when James chipped Fafailia Petaloti as she tried unsuccessfully, to retreat from an offside position. That goal was struck off but James was a constant spark. It is only the Chelsea forward’s injury record which precludes her from being a more permanent solution in the middle. There are still other options to try, including Grace Clinton who has replaced Lucia Kendall in the squad, Jess Park and the teenage Parkinson.

England still have worrying defensive frailties and they were exposed by two promising Greek glimpses. Calliste Brookshire struck a consolation past Hannah Hampton and Ioanna Papatheodorou had rattled the crossbar after running and running at Leah Williamson as the skipper returned in place of Jess Carter at centre-back. Such Herculean efforts were never likely to last.  

Wiegman is also navigating the twilight years of England’s Bronze Age. Maya Le Tissier came in to replace the injured Lucy Bronze and after a lively showing at right-wing-back smashed her effort into the roof of the net.

Question marks remain over England’s depth in that area but it can no longer be said that there are no clear alternatives. It has taken time for her to convince Wiegman that she should be playing on the right rather than in the middle but she is looking more like Bronze’s successor all the time.

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The qualifying process has lent itself to a string of mismatches – see the Irish brushing aside Kazakhstan 8-0. Greece, meanwhile, have never qualified for a major tournament and found themselves pitted against the two-time European champions.

By the hour mark, England had turned on the style, a trademark finish for the third provided by Russo. Arsenal’s dire start to the season has so often been blamed on the fact they are simply not clinical enough – that goal will have done her confidence the world of good.  

Much like the draw itself, it was at times awkward and a little convoluted. But England are on course to face Slovakia or Ukraine next – barring disaster next week.