Alessia Russo benefits from Italy snub to lead England's World Cup pursuit

15 August 2023 , 05:49

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Alessia Russo has been talismanic for England (Image: Mark Metcalfe - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)

Grinning between her two big ­brothers in the iconic blue of Italy, Alessia Russo had no idea it would be in the white of England that her dreams would come true.

For England’s No,23, whose Italian grandfather inspired her love of ­football, scored the winner against Colombia on Saturday and set up the game of a lifetime on Wednesday – when the Lionesses take on Australia in the World Cup semi-final at 11am. A young Alessia is snapped sandwiched between Luca and Giorgio, all wearing the Azzurri’s blue shirt from 2012, the year they reached the final of the European Championship.

But now they too have changed allegiance and can be seen in the stands, proudly wearing England shirts with her name on the back – branding themselves “team Russo”. The trio were born to Carol and Mario Russo in Maidstone, Kent, after their Sicilian grandad moved to England in 1958 and became devoted to Manchester United.

It was a love affair with football that would be passed down to his grandchildren. “Alessia had no option but to play football – it was non-negotiable,” dad Mario once said. Mario, who played for Metropolitan Police FC during his time in the force, took his daughter to her first game at the age of five,and quickly realised she was destined for greatness.

Speaking about her debut with grassroots team Bearsted FC, Mario said: “The first training session was hard. I always remember walking across the pitch to introduce her to the manager and getting really strange looks from the parents. “They couldn’t believe this young girl had the front to train with their superstar boys.”

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But Alessia wowed the coaches and she was soon playing for a newly created girls team. And it seems it was written in the stars that she would be called up to play for her first senior Women’s World Cup in Sydney – where her parents got engaged.

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Alessia Russo has been backed by her family in Australia (giorgiorusso__/Instagram)

Alessia Russo has Italian roots which could've seen her represent the Azzurri (Luca Russo Instagram)

During the tournament, the striker, 24, revealed her dad proposed on the steps of the city’s Opera House, describing it as a “special place” for their family. Luca and Giorgio are close pals with Georgia Stanway’s brothers, John Paul and Sol, as well as the Kelly boys including Chloe’s boyfriend, Scott, and her five brothers.

During their downtime in Sydney before the Nigeria game the brothers and boyfriends hit the famous Luna Park theme park together. And instead of travelling back to Terrigal with the rest of the squad’s entourage, the Russo and Stanway boys stayed in Brisbane to take a road trip up to surfers’ paradise Byron Bay.

Alessia Russo scored the crucial winning goal against Colombia in the quarter-finals (FIFA via Getty Images)

Alessia said: “Georgia and I have played together since we were about 12 and our brothers used to always come to all the youth tournaments. They have been friends ever since. Although they’re here to watch a World Cup, they’re having a great time. It’s so nice that our families can be out here enjoying this together.”

Jeremy Armstrong