Cheeky, audacious, sublime. Alessia Russo’s back-heeled goal in England’s semi-final win over Sweden was the best we have seen at Euro 2022.
It was a piece of individual brilliance of which any player, male or female, would have been proud. Russo has been one of the stars of the tournament. More remarkable than her goal on Tuesday is that she could win the Golden Boot without even starting a game.
The England striker has scored four goals off the bench, two behind team-mate and top scorer Beth Mead. It would take a hat-trick in Sunday’s final at Wembley to usurp Mead but after her exquisite effort against Sweden, nothing seems impossible.