England hero Alessia Russo talks hype, legacy and that Euro 2022 goal

England ‘super-sub’ Alessia Russo says she will always be happy to play as much or as little as is needed for her country and has revealed she is only just beginning to realise the enormity of what the Lionesses have achieved.

The Manchester United striker proved a marvel for Sarina Wiegman’s side off the bench at the European Championship, scoring four goals for a team that beat Germany 2-1 after extra-time on Sunday to lift the trophy at Wembley.

Despite not starting any of England’s six matches at the tournament, Russo’s goals in the race for the Golden Boot were bettered only by team-mate Beth Mead and Germany’s Alexandra Popp, who each scored six.

Wiegman repeatedly used Russo, Sunday’s scorers Chloe Kelly and Ella Toone as impact substitutes around the hour-mark in the Euros and Russo insisted that is just fine by her.

‘I just love playing for England and whenever I do, whether it’s ten minutes or starting and playing the full 90 minutes, I will happily take it,’ the Maidstone-born 23-year-old told Metro.

‘Sarina did have chats with us before the tournament but once it began we all knew our roles and what we had to do. There are 23 of us and all are crucial to a winning team. Everyone bought into it.’

And what about her iconic backheel against Sweden? ‘I probably did it in the playground or playing in the park but I had never done it in a game before. I’d never pulled if off, anyway! One of my favourite things to come out of it is kids are replicating it now’.

Former Chelsea and Brighton forward Russo maintains she wants to keep the profile of the women’s game high even though the aftermath of the final has already been ‘nuts’.

That may be true. The adidas boots she was wearing when she scored her ‘Lessi’ backheel goal