One of the stars of the victorious Lionesses side from Euro 2022 has told Sky News the players are hungry for more silverware.
Alessia Russo, 26, will be aiming to help England secure back-to-back European championships this summer as the team look to defend their title in Switzerland, after success on home soil three years ago.
The striker scored four goals during the competition, including an “incredible” back-heeled effort against Sweden in the semi-finals which topped a list of the top 10 goals of the tournament, selected by UEFA’s technical observer panel.
England won the final, beating Germany 2-1 in extra-time at Wembley. It was the country’s first major trophy since the men’s side won the World Cup in 1966.
Russo said: “The Euros is huge. We know as players, we know how it felt to win it and we want to go there and defend our title.
“We have so many quality players and a quality backroom staff as well. It will be massive and we’re really looking forward to it.”
Meanwhile, before the competition starts in earnest in July, there is the matter of the Women’s Super League.
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The Arsenal footballer said there is a “big gap” at the top between the north London club and league leaders Chelsea.
But she claims “every game matters” between now and the end of the season to close the gap on the west London side.
‘Massive end of the season’
Speaking ahead of the north London derby on Sunday, the forward said: “Obviously, we’re realistic and we understand there’s a big gap at the top now, but we’re still pushing and we have a massive end of the season.
“We’re still in the Champions League, we’re still in the FA Cup and we’re still pushing for the league. I think every game matters from now through to the end of the season and absolutely as a club we want to win trophies.
“As a player, I want to win trophies so we know that what we’ve got left in this season, we’re going to be doing everything we can to win it.”
Arsenal sit third in the league table knowing victory over their north London rivals, Tottenham Hotspur, would be a huge boost to the team who missed out on a chance to reach the final of the Conti Cup, after a 2-1 defeat to Manchester City in the semi-finals.
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After 13 matches, the Gunners are currently on 27 points, with leaders Chelsea on 37, and Manchester United, in second spot, with 30.
Russo added: “As soon as you sign for Arsenal and you become an Arsenal player, you understand the history of the north London derby, the rivalries within the clubs, and I like to talk to Lotte [Wubben-Moy] and Leah [Williamson] about it because they’re lifelong Gooners.
“If you understand it from their point of view, coming into the club, it’s a game that you must win and it carries a lot of history, but also as players like it’s a massive rivalry and a big game for the badge.”
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Russo condemns abuse
Last week, the women’s top-flight league issued a statement saying it was “shocked and saddened” by the “incidents” after Manchester City’s Khadija ‘Bunny’ Shaw and Chelsea’s Millie Bright were subjected to racist and misogynistic abuse.
Shaw subsequently withdrew from the following fixture to protect her own mental wellbeing. She scored on her return to City’s matchday squad in Sunday’s Women’s FA Cup win against Leicester.
Russo, who played for Manchester United for three seasons before moving to the capital, condemned the abuse directed at the Jamaica international.
She said: “What Bunny’s experienced is sad for a player to read about. I think any kind of racism is completely unacceptable. Obviously, as a colleague, we stand with them and fully respect their decisions that they take with the process.”
Arsenal say more than 50,000 tickets have been sold for the match at the Emirates Stadium. On Sunday, Renee Slegers’ team will be looking to paint north London red.
