At half-time, the stadium announcer declared that, “as things stand, England are going to the final”. It seemed a little abusive, the kind of statement that could be considered a source of regret, though not for long. Within four minutes of the start of the second half, Lucy Bronze had doubled the lead, her header drifting slowly past Lindahl’s dive. That goal, in retrospect, would have been enough, but at the time it wasn’t enough to be sure. Only with Russo’s improvisational, instinctive brilliance could the crowd—could the players—relax. Minutes later, Fran Kirby, England’s creative heartbeat, raced over on goal. She was also in one of the biggest games of her career. He also knew this was serious. However, she took the delightful option, lifting a thin, arching chip just beyond Lindahl’s grasp, deflecting her gloves into the net behind her. It was something a player strives for when he is, despite the situation he is in, having fun.
