It was definitely a shock. Shocked and stunned. People were incredulous more than anything.
What Alessia Russo did in the 68th minute in England’s semi-final win over Sweden not only turned heads at the stadium, it caught the attention of the nation and the world.
It didn’t go that way in the beginning. England had their backs to the wall for the first 20 minutes. The crowd in Bramall Lane was nervous, tense and almost silent at times. Sweden hit the woodwork, resulting in the 28,000 spectators in attendance taking in most of the South Yorkshire air in one gulp.
But by the time Russo came on – the fifth game in a row Sarina Wiegman had called her up in the second half – England were already 2-0 up. Within seconds she was causing problems for Sweden. A driving run and a perfect pass across the box set up Lauren Hemp, whose finish smashed the bar.
England also had to ride through a storm seconds later when Stina Blackstenius had a shot that goalkeeper Mary Earps just managed to put over the bar. The resulting corner led to a tame Swedish effort that Earps was able to sweep up and use to eat the clock. It was a moment that audibly calmed the crowd and gave England a moment to breathe.
Up to that moment England had been unable to play their game – they had been pushed out of their patient approach – but what came moments later was one of their quietest game periods yet.
Earps launched the ball up and after a few feeble attempts to get the ball on the ground, Georgia Stanway played a hopeful ball to Hemp. It bounced over Swedish heads and Hemp managed to get it under control. She drove for goal and unleashed a shot that went wide, only for the ball to be recaptured by Lucy Bronze. She quickly whipped the ball back into the box but it found no one. This time it was Rachel Daly’s turn to recover and recycle. She sent the ball back to Leah Williamson and England hit the reset button.
Williamson to Fran Kirby, Kirby to hemp, hemp to Kirby and back again. There was movement, pattern, precision. England were in their element. It was back and forth – not rushed, just relaxed. After several more passes, the ball landed at Keira Walsh, England’s puppeteer.
“Patience from England,” said BBC commentator Robyn Cowen. Something was brewing.
Walsh stood on the edge of the box, looking for options and scanning the field. Kirby took her chance and slipped behind the Swedish defense and waited for the perfect Walsh pass to dutifully arrive.
Kirby sent the ball back across the box where Russo was waiting. The Manchester United striker got the first shot, but Hedvig Lindahl saved it with her feet.
Knowing she had to come back for more, Russo said after the game, “I should have scored the first goal.”
The ball rolled to the six-yard box and Russo was first. Caroline Seger tried to wrestle the ball from Russo but she bounced off the Sweden defender like she was a kid, not a 37-year-old centre-back with more than 200 caps for her country.
Seger used her experience to force Russo away from goal, pushing her away and trying to stop her from turning. But without even looking, Russo sensed an opportunity.
“When it came to me, I was like, ‘Right, what’s the quickest way to get this on the net?'” Russo said after the game. “So I swung my foot at it and luckily it hit the back of the net.”
As if threading a needle rather than the instep of her foot, she used her right heel to flick the ball between Lindahl’s legs and within half a second nothing would be the same for England women’s football again.
It was a WWE finishing move, the Big Show jumped off the rope and brought down the clothesline. It was a three by Steph Curry from the corner. It was done, it was done. Russo had disregarded the best in the world and it was unforgettable.
Wiegman afterwards reflected that Russo “must have had such courage to do something so unpredictable and phenomenal”.
That’s what this whole team has – the courage and confidence to try anything and the belief that they can pull off the unthinkable on the biggest stage.
“I don’t usually score in heels and I don’t think you’ll ever see one again, but I’ll take it for now.” So do we.