Alessia Russo discusses backheel goals for England against Sweden at Euro 2022 on the UTD Podcast
As she prepares to perform on the big stage again, Russo revisits the summer and that night of her backheel goal against Sweden with our podcast hosts Helen Evans, Sam Homewood and David May.
The 23-year-old was introduced as a second-half substitute with England 2-0 up and heading into the final there was a festive atmosphere at Bramall Lane and less than 10 minutes after entering the pitch she created a moment that will go down in English football folklore.
“In the build-up to it, I had one chance first and missed the first chance, so I could have made it a lot easier on myself, if only I had,” Alessia explained when asked what was on her mind. the time for the goal.
“I just reacted and thought I had to do something about it because I should have scored an open goal basically, but the keeper saved it and it fell straight back to me. When I got to the ball I was just backwards to the goal and I don’t know what came over me, but I just held back! I’ll probably never do it again, but I was glad it was in the semifinals.”
A look at the Alessia Russo goal again? Oh, go on then. 😍
Live: https://t.co/zg8cPsrbEf#BBFCotball #BBCEuros pic.twitter.com/9y7bdKLZ5r
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) 26 July 2022
The effort all but secured England’s place in the final – which they would, of course, go on to triumph against Germany – and was later named Euro 2022’s goal of the tournament.
The magnitude of the goal could be felt just seconds after the ball also hit the back of the net, with clips quickly going viral on social media. Alessia explains in the podcast that she didn’t really realize the importance and the X-factor in the goal right away.
“Not at the time of the game because I didn’t see how it went in. I had no idea. I just hit and then all of a sudden everyone was celebrating. It wasn’t until I saw it back,” she said on the podcast.
“I would knock around and joke about when I was training with a backheel but never actually did it. I think we were just given a lot of freedom to play your own game at the European Championships, which was really cool.
“I probably wouldn’t have tried it otherwise.”