Alessia Russo 'buzzing' to end England goal drought
- Alessia Russo scored England's opening goal against China on Tuesday
- Striker netted first international goal since February
- Spoke about the new 3-4-1-2 formation the Lionesses used
Alessia Russo wheeled away to celebrate like a huge weight had been lifted off her shoulders when she found the bottom corner of the net just four minutes into England’s win over China.
As a starter, Russo had spent the first two games of the World Cup struggling to make the kind of impact she had previously made as a substitute at Euro 2022 a year ago.
The 24-year-old is undoubtedly one of the key faces in the squad and among the biggest draw of any player in the women's game in England, but she hadn't scored an international goal since February prior to Tuesday’s overdue thumping win. Russo had also only netted once in her last five appearances for Manchester United, while frenzied speculation engulfed the subject of future uncertain club future for months prior to eventually joining Arsenal.
The word Russo word used when looking back on the China goal, which she had also played a huge role in the build-up with a through ball into space to Lauren Hemp, was "buzzing".
"I'm a striker, I like to score as much as I can," she said.
"You've just got to go back to basics, work hard and that's what I've been doing in training, hoping for a moment. When you get it you've got to take it with both hands."
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England as a whole unit had struggled in the World Cup and the handful of build-up games – Lauren James' winner against Denmark was the team's first open play goal since early April – but Russo is adamant the players themselves were never that concerned.
"I think you lot in the media worry about that more than we do as players," she added. "We just want to win every game whether it's 1-0 or 10-0. I think it's amazing to score that many goals but we just want to win and progress through this tournament as players."
England will face Nigeria in their first knockout game next Monday and it remains to be seen what formation manager Sarina Wiegman will choose after switching to a 3-4-1-2 system for the China game that saw Russo supported by Hemp as a fellow striker and James as a 'number 10'.
"I liked it," the player reflected. "You have closer connections to players which is nice because you have LJ under you and Hempo right by your side."