Manchester United star Alessia Russo sends heroic England into Euro 2022 final

Manchester United star Alessia Russo came off the bench to score an audacious goal and send heroic England to the Euro 2022 showpiece courtesy of a stunning 4-0 win over Sweden at Bramall Lane.

As dreams about winning the competition on home soil continue, strikes from Beth Mead and former Manchester City player Lucy Bronze put the Lionesses in control, before super sub Russo entered the fray and once again had a major say on the outcome. Fran Kirby added a fourth goal as England head on to Wembley.

Sarina Wiegman and her breathtaking team will take on Germany or Spain — with those two nations locking horns for the right to meet England — in the final on Sunday afternoon (5pm).

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Despite the huge reward on offer for the winner, it was a frantic start from both sides and there were, perhaps, a few more early openings than were to be expected. Mary Earps was called into action inside 40 seconds and, also, had to make another key save with 10 minutes on the clock.

Sweden were on top at that stage and struck the frame with another effort, but England had their own promising moments through ex-City midfielder Georgia Stanway — whose stunning winner put the Lionesses through to these semis — and former teammate Ellen White.

Neither of those chances really threatened to break the deadlock, though, and Kirby needed to be on hand at the other end to thwart a dangerous Sweden attack. She slid in at the last second to keep the score goalless and offer England a platform to go up the other end and strike first on the road to Wembley.

Predictably, it was Mead who got the finishing touch after more heroics earlier in the competition. With five goals to her name from four games