But as the dirt settles from the Lionesses’ historic 2-1 success at Wembley Arena on Sunday, Russo insists this is “just the start” for her team and what the lady hopes is a shiny future for can certainly football in England.
“The final was simply an unbelievable day — the stadium, the event, having all those fans there was just surreal, ” the Manchester United forward informs CNN Sport .
The particular Euro 2022 last was played in front of 87, 192 people — a record crowd for an European Tournament final, men’s or women’s, while 17. 4 million throughout the UK watched the game on TV, according to the BBC.
“This is just the beginning now for us, I believe. We want to pack away stadiums every week, of course we do, but we’ve got to be practical and we know that it’s a process to get presently there, ” Russo provides.
“We would like to see more people fall in love with the game plus accept that women’s football is amazing. The USA set the bar, but the groups are catching upward now and it’s really exciting. ”
While Russo and Britain can now look at what lies ahead for that team — qualifiers for next year’s World Cup and a gathering with the top-ranked USWNT — they can also think about a roller-coaster European campaign.
The home benefit meant England has been among the favorites to win Euro 2022 well before a ball had been kicked, as well as the expectations only increased after a thumping 8-0 win against Norway in the group phases.
“I think the media put stress on us as soon as they found out it had been a home tournament, inch says Russo, “but there’s never been any pressure internally.
“We were really good with keeping the bubble very much closed and incredibly much focused on the particular games… From day one, we wanted to earn the tournament, but at the same time, we realized that we had to shut out the whole outside world.
“We didn’t also know how crazy it was going to be, and it’s really turned out to be 10 times crazier than we all thought… We just were so centered on training and taking pleasure in each other’s business, switching off and going again. inch
What also assisted, Russo says, was the influence of manager Sarina Wiegman, who has yet to lose a game title with England, nor at the Women’s Pounds having also led Netherlands to triumph in 2017.
“I think we all love actively playing under her, ” says Russo. “She has like an actual calmness about her. She’s very calm and off the frequency and even on the sidelines. She doesn’t actually get too warmed or too at the moment — she’s extremely level-headed. ”
The 23-year-old Russo has mainly been used instead throughout her England career and had been brought off the along with in all six of the Lionesses’ Euro 2022 games.
Her fourth and final goal of the tournament was the majority of memorable — a classy, instinctive back-heel through the legs of Sweden’s goalkeeper Hedvig Lindahl which put the shine on England’s 4-0 semifinal win.
“I don’t think I’ll ever score a goal like that again, ” says Russo. “I believe it was just an one-time wonder, but I’ll take. ”
The goal quickly gained plaudits from throughout the women’s game plus beyond, including catching the attention of US excellent Abby Wambach and Chelsea and Australia celebrity Sam Kerr.
“I saw my outdated club that I were raised playing with — they were all practicing with training, which was good, ” Russo adds.
“And if it’s an objective or whatever, it could nice to see that will women’s football’s leaving a mark at the world and on younger boys and girls. If it’s influenced one person to go out and play soccer, I’ll take it. ”
Watch the goal back — and the wild celebrations that adopted — and it’s tough not to be motivated by Russo and the Lionesses.
The future of can certainly football in England appears bright, but before Russo can begin to contemplate what it might keep, she has more immediate priorities.
“There’s definitely a holiday coming up, ” she says. “It’s been an amazing few months, but I’m extremely exhausted and need a little break. ”