Lionesses Backing Southgate’s Side for Euro 2024 Victory

England striker Alessia Russo has backed Gareth Southgate’s side to block out the noise and replicate the Lionesses’ Euro 2022 victory by triumphing in Germany this summer.

Southgate’s team will be striving to make a successive European Championship final when they take on the Netherlands in Wednesday’s semi-final in Dortmund.

Russo, who played a pivotal role in helping the Lionesses win the Euros two years and was also part of the team that reached last summer’s World Cup final, believes her male counterparts have what it takes to go all the way.

‘We’ll always back them all the way, I’m English and I think they’re gonna win it and hopefully they do,’ Russo said.

‘All that matters in tournament football is win and progress and that’s what they’ve been doing, even at tough times they’ve been finding ways to win.’

There were question marks over some of the Lionesses performances at the World Cup, with the team securing a penalty shoot-out victory over Nigeria in the last 16. Russo said the team were able to block out external noise and back Southgate’s side, who have faced similar questions over their performances, to do the same.

‘With us, we didn’t hear any of that noise, I think that’s important and I have no doubt the men are doing exactly that.

‘When you’re in tournament football, all that matters is that you win and progress. Obviously in an ideal world you’d like to play the best performance every single game but sometimes not always possible.

‘I think in tournament football, sometimes people perceive the games to be easier than they actually are, and are in that moment. You win and you progress and that’s all that matters. Also, as tournaments go on, you do kind of slowly begin to build a form going through it, and hopefully they’ll continue that tomorrow night

‘I would think noise is quite quiet in their camp which is exactly how it should be. Hopefully players are having fun and just enjoying the ride of the tournament, knowing that they’ve got the full support of us back home.’

With Lionesses’ boss Sarina Wiegman and several of her staff hailing from the Netherlands, Russo was asked whether the camp had been divided ahead of Wednesday’s game.

‘It hasn’t yet but maybe when the game is on it might,’ the forward joked. ‘Ultimately they’re Dutch but they have massive love for England too.’

England’s vice-captain Millie Bright added that she and her team-mates will watch Wednesday’s game together in Norwich, ahead of their own Euro 2025 qualifier against the Republic of Ireland on Friday.

Asked whether Wiegman will be watching in the same room, Bright laughed: ‘We’ve all got our body armour on don’t worry.

‘We’ll all watch it together. We’ve got a really good environment. We’re all looking to get behind the boys.

‘When you’re a player watching it, you watch it as if you’re in the game. I know exactly what those moments feel like but I think everyone has stepped up with great courage. We’ve got full faith in the lads.’