Beckham's Impact on Alessia Russo: Reigniting Lioness Spirits, England's World Cup Triumph
England's Women's World Cup campaign begins with a clash against Haiti Alessia Russo, Lionesses forward and Euro 2022 champion, joins former England captain David Beckham for an adidas interview, discussing the tournament and more Get ready for an exciting journey!
Prior to the Women's World Cup, David Beckham had a conversation with Alessia Russo. They discussed various topics including the Lionesses as a source of inspiration, the upcoming tournament, and the experience of playing for England.
Beckham, who was once the captain of the men's England team, commended the Lionesses for their ability to positively influence children in the UK. He witnessed this firsthand through his own daughter, Harper, after their impressive victory in Euro 2022 last year.
"After last year, I have been avidly following the team and observing the girls throughout their seasons. I have witnessed immense talent and unwavering passion among all of you. It is truly remarkable and the impact is contagious when I witness you playing as a unified team," he expressed during a conversation graciously arranged by adidas.
"I felt so inspired by this. My daughter couldn't stop discussing it at school, sharing her admiration with her friends, and even discussing it with me. It was truly incredible to see how you girls have inspired my daughter."
Over the past decade, there has been a sudden surge in the popularity of the women's game. Stadiums are now filled to capacity, and advertisements promoting women's sports are ubiquitous. Being a part of this remarkable growth must bring about an incredible sense of satisfaction for you.
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Alessia Russo and David Beckham sat down to chat all things Women's World Cup plus more (picture courtesy of adidas)
Russo expressed her joy upon hearing Beckham's personal experience and stated that inspiring the younger generation is a major goal for the Lionesses. She added that such stories are crucial as girls' involvement in football has not always been widely accepted. Russo emphasized the importance of encouraging young girls to start playing football, as that aligns with their intended message.
Obviously, our desire was to win the tournament as well, but it was crucial for us to convey a specific message moving forward.
"It still feels peculiar because during my childhood, if I wished to witness my idols from the past, such as Kelly Smith, I had to be present in the stadium physically."
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This would never have been the case even for young boys who had female names on the back of their shirts, around five or 10 years ago.
Winning trophies holds great significance in one's career, but it truly means the most when you witness young children proudly donning jerseys with names on the back.
Hearing stories like your daughter's is truly heartening. It's remarkable how our passion for football has the ability to inspire others, even without us realizing it. Perhaps one day, when we reflect on our journey, we'll truly comprehend the immense power it possesses. It's truly incredible, and here's to hoping for a highly successful year ahead.
Russo is currently preparing for the upcoming Women's World Cup this summer, and Beckham, having represented England in major tournaments, understands the significance. This year commemorates the 25th anniversary of Beckham's debut in the 1998 World Cup, and during his conversation with Russo, he emphasized the perpetual pressure that comes with playing for their nation as an England player.
I apologize for this, but that is something you will always experience because of your recent victory in the Euros. Your team and its players have become the subject of many discussions in the game, which actually brings about a positive pressure. It is preferable to be in this situation rather than any other.
What you need to be aware of is that there are numerous people back home who support you. They will fully back the team throughout the entire tournament, regardless of the highs and lows that are inevitable. The key is to remain united and stick together.
During his illustrious international career, Beckham netted numerous memorable goals for England. Seeking further insight, he seized the opportunity to inquire about Russo's remarkable backheel strike in the semi-final of Euro 2022 against Sweden.
"I doubt I'll ever reproduce such a feat. I'm not even sure how I managed it," she confessed. "Afterwards, a few freestylers started following me on Instagram, but it didn't align with my player identity at all. I believe they misunderstood me completely."
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Alessia Russo, courtesy of adidas, will be participating in her second major tournament for England this summer. The remarkable aspect of the summer was that each player felt empowered to exhibit their own style and flair, disregarding the pressures typically associated with major tournaments.
What is the World Cup schedule?
The group stage is scheduled to commence on Thursday, July 20 and will span over a duration of two weeks, culminating on Thursday, August 3. During this phase, team performance will determine the group winners and runners-up who will advance to the round of 16. This subsequent round is set to take place from Saturday, August 5 to Tuesday, August 8.The quarter-finals are set to take place on Friday, August 11, and Saturday, August 12, in Wellington, Auckland, Brisbane, and Sydney.
Following the quarter-finals, Auckland will host the first semi-final on Tuesday, August 15, while the second semi-final will be held at the Accor Stadium in Sydney on Wednesday, August 16. The final match will also be hosted by the Accor Stadium on Sunday, August 20.
A third-place play-off will be played the day before the final on Saturday August 19 in Brisbane.
