Alessia Russo has repaid faith with a flourish to keep England dreaming

Striker suffered a slow start at the World Cup but has been brilliant since Sarina Wiegman’s change to a 3-4-1-2 formation

Rewind to 27 July 2022, the night Alessia Russo wrote herself into the history books. In the heat of a Sheffield semi-final, England’s “super sub” produced one of the most audacious goals seen at a European Championship. “The Russo” as it has come to be known – the cheeky angled backheel that befuddled a Sweden defender and nutmegged Hedvig Lindahl in goal – is now adorned on T-shirts and mugs and earned her a nomination for the 2022 Puskas Award. It was the moment the world woke up to exactly what England’s calm blue-eyed assassin could do.

Fast forward to July-August 2023 and Russo’s stock has risen rapidly while her role for the Lionesses has markedly changed. She spent the last tournament as the apprentice to Ellen White, used for impact off the bench in all their matches. Since the retirement of England’s record goalscorer, however, she has taken on the responsibility of a starting role, the focal point of Sarina Wiegman’s attack.

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