Posted: 23:29, July 26, 2022 | Updated: 23:54, July 26, 2022
Alessia Russo scored England’s third goal in emphatic fashion en route to the Lionesses’ stunning 4-0 win over Sweden at Bramall Lane. Russo appeared to have squandered a great chance when she had a close-range shot saved by Hedvig Lindahl, before shrugging off the Swedish defense and driving the ball through the legs of the veteran keeper in an outrageous display of skill. Russo is now the second top scorer at the tournament with all four of her goals coming from the bench, which has left some onlookers – including England and Arsenal legend Ian Wright – confused as to why she is not starting. Alessia Russo came off the bench again to score the third in England’s 4-0 rout of Sweden. Wright likened Russo to Argentina great Lionel Messi, saying: “Lessie”, not Messi, for what he did. [Russo] he has done when he enters. I don’t know what to do to start a game. “Improvisation is fantastic. When he came in, he made an immediate impact. Connects the game. I’m not sure what else he needs to do to get started. “When you look at Ellen White’s contribution over the years, you can’t dispute it. But he hasn’t done enough in this tournament. ‘This girl [Russo] it does. I don’t think Wiegman will change that.’ Wiegman herself said: “You have to have so much courage to do something so unpredictable and amazing like this, that no one could react to it. It was so nice to see.” Ian Wright called Russo ‘Lessie’ – likening her name to that of Argentina talisman Lionel Messi Chelsea’s Australian star Sam Kerr, who has scored a number of incredible goals, said: “I’m not going to lie, that was lit up by Russo.” Piers Morgan said: “Honestly one of the best goals ever scored, by any kind of man.” And Chris Kamara started dancing to the song that’s now sweeping the country for the second time in a year, adding: ‘Fran Kirby makes it 4-0. But what about Alessia Russo with the sassy back heel. He’s coming home!’ Many fans just couldn’t get over the Manchester United striker’s goal, with one Twitter user saying: “Just watching it in a row for the next 5 days.” A second fan echoed the sentiment, adding: “That was ridiculous!!” Another user added that it was probably the best goal we’d see all year, simply declaring: “Goal of the year.” And a fourth user went a step further, suggesting he would win the award for the best goal scored all year, saying: “Sorry but it’s scenes, Puskas level.” One fan followed Wright’s lead and compared Russo to two of football’s all-time greats, suggesting: “If Ronaldo or Messi had scored that it would have been talked about for years #Russo #Lions.” Whether Russo will start in the final, however, is a different matter. On the one hand, anyone who can score four goals in five games deserves a place in the squad but, on the other hand, with England playing so well, Sarina Wiegman will be loathe to make changes. After a nervous start for England, Beth Mead – the tournament’s top scorer with six – opened the scoring in the first half on 34 minutes, before Lucy Bronze made it 2-0 with a free header inside Sweden’s penalty area right after the break. Rousseau replaced Ellen White just before the hour, her wonder goal coming in the 68th minute and Fran Kirby putting the final nail in Sweden’s EURO coffin in the 76th minute with a chip Lindahl really should have had it’s going better. The Lionesses will now meet either France or Germany in the final at Wembley on Sunday 31 July.
