When England were consigned to the World Cup play-offs back in June, it felt like a massive step backwards. How were the European champions not a shoo-in for the next major tournament in the international calendar? The Lionesses only missed out by a whisker, finishing their qualifying campaign with 15 points from a possible 18.
But it's difficult to overlook how we got here. England's 4-0 defeat to Spain was an eye-opener, their biggest margin of loss for 17 years. The heaviest of Sarina Wiegman's time in charge.
It highlighted a gulf that felt more technical than tactical. In the moment, Spain showed themselves to be streets ahead in style and substance. A team with a plan, rooted in DNA and identity.
Their possession-dominant performance blew England away. The ignominy of the scoreline actually managed to flatter the losers rather than the other way around. And bigger picture, that poses a significant problem for Wiegman.
Is a rivalry that was previously highly competitive now partial to Spanish supremacy? The boss was at a loss to explain why England suffered for so long in a game that she expected to be "very tight". "What I'm trying to do now is think, what caused this?" Hopefully by now, some of that soul searching has offered answers.
Wiegman will be grateful not to have to prepare her side to play Spain on this ocassion, but Greece, a nation ranked 55 places below England in international status. The Lionesses are fierce favourites to progress across two legs. Perhaps this window presents an opportunity, then.
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