Another game against Sweden, another goal for Alessia Russo.
This one tonight was nowhere near the striker’s brilliant back-heeled goal in the semi-finals of Euro 2022, which catapulted her into stardom, but it was nonetheless an important one for the Lionesses.
It ensured England made an unbeaten start in their quest to qualify for Euro 2025, with Russo’s first-half header cancelled out by Fridolina Rolfo’s effort in the second-half.
Russo’s goal was the only real moment of quality from England in an otherwise lacklustre game, which in truth neither side deserved to win.
It was also exactly the type of goal that Russo needs to score more of if she is to establish herself as the Lionesses’ No9.
🅰️ James
— ITV Football (@itvfootball) April 5, 2024
⚽️ Russo
England have their first goal on the road to Euro 2025 🏴🙌#ENGSWE pic.twitter.com/K4xGAMWG4h
No one can deny the 25-year-old has many strong points to her game, in particular her ability to be a focal point for the attack. Few strikers are as good as Russo at holding the ball up and linking the play, while she also works tirelessly when out of possession.
If you were to be critical, though, it could be argued that the Arsenal striker does not score enough goals.
The Gunners believe she has the capacity to become a ruthless finisher and their manager Jonas Eidevall has been working with Russo this season to transform her game.
“We work with the positioning and making sure you get into those situations more often, by having the right position and the right angle and making the most out of it,” he said.
“The amount of touches you get as a 9 is, in most teams, the most limited amount of touches for all the outfield players. It is not about increasing those touches it is about increasing the quality of those touches.
“That is generally what you need to work on with forward players. Everyone would like the ball a bit more, but the reality in football is that that area is going to be more restricted.”
Russo’s goal against Sweden was evidence of that hard work paying off.
The striker was in the right place at the right time for James’ perfectly-weighted cross, heading home from a few yards. It was what Eidevall had been talking about, with Russo otherwise playing no part in the move but still having the decisive touch.
Russo undoubtedly has the quality to be a striker in the mould Arsenal want, and that can only be a good thing for England.
The Lionesses have an abundance of creative quality - even if it was lacking against Sweden - and a penalty-box poacher would be a valuable weapon for them.
Russo has the ability to be that - and now she must prove it over the upcoming qualifying campaign.
