David Beckham's Unexpected Encounter with Rising Star Alessia Russo: England's World Cup Hopeful and Women's Football Inspiration
England's Women's World Cup journey begins with a clash against Haiti Alessia Russo, Lionesses forward and Euro 2022 champion, shares her insights on the upcoming tournament and more in an inspiring conversation with former England captain David Beckham, courtesy of adidas
David Beckham recently had a conversation with Alessia Russo, discussing various topics like the inspiration provided by the Lionesses, the forthcoming Women's World Cup, and their experience of playing for England. After witnessing the positive influence that the Lionesses had on children in the UK through their victory in Euro 2022, Beckham, a former captain of the England men's team, commended their efforts. He personally observed this impact on his own daughter, Harper.
"Since last year, I have avidly followed the team and the girls during their seasons. Witnessing the immense talent and unwavering passion you all possess is truly remarkable. It is both awe-inspiring and contagious to watch you play and function as a cohesive unit," he expressed, during a conversation sponsored by adidas.
"This experience was truly uplifting. My daughter couldn't stop discussing it at school, sharing it with her friends, and even talking about it with me. To witness my daughter finding inspiration in your accomplishments was truly remarkable."
In the past decade, there has been a sudden surge in the popularity of the women's game. Packed-out stadiums and widespread advertisements are now commonplace. Being a part of this remarkable growth must make you feel truly incredible.
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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, emphasizing the importance of inspiring the younger generation, which is a primary goal for the Lionesses.
"These are the stories we want to hear because girls' involvement in football hasn't always been highly regarded. Therefore, encouraging young girls to pick up a football is the message we aimed to convey," she stated.
Naturally, our aim was to win the tournament as well, but that was the statement we wanted to convey for the future.
"It still feels strange because during my childhood, if I desired to see my role models from back then, such as Kelly Smith, I had to be present at the stadium to observe her.
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"In the past, it was unthinkable for young boys to have female names on the back of their shirts, but that has changed now."
Winning trophies is a significant achievement in one's career, but what truly holds meaning is seeing little kids proudly donning shirts with our names on the back.
It brings immense joy to hear stories like your daughter's, as it is remarkable that our love for football can inspire others. The power of this sport can have far-reaching effects that we may not fully comprehend until we reflect upon it in the future. It is truly incredible, and we hope to have a highly successful year ahead.
Russo is getting ready for the upcoming Women's World Cup this summer, and Beckham fully understands the responsibility of representing England in major tournaments. This year commemorates his initial World Cup experience in 1998, and in a conversation with Russo, he acknowledged the perpetual pressure that comes with playing for their nation. "Being an England player means constantly facing that pressure," Beckham affirmed.
I apologize for this, but it is unavoidable as you have recently emerged victorious in the Euros. As the most widely discussed team in the sport, along with the most talked about individuals, it is a positive form of pressure. It is preferable to be in this position rather than any other.
All you need to remember is that you have a multitude of people supporting you from your home country. They will stand right beside the team throughout the entire tournament, including the inevitable highs and lows. As long as you remain united and stay together, you will overcome any challenges.
During his illustrious international career, Beckham netted numerous remarkable goals for England. Intrigued by her remarkable backheel goal against Sweden in the Euro 2022 semi-final, Beckham seized the opportunity to question Russo about her astounding achievement.
"I doubt I'll ever replicate that feat. Its origin remains a mystery to me," she exclaimed. "Afterward, a few freestylers began following me on Instagram, and I believed they misunderstood my true identity as a player.
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The summer was truly remarkable because each player had the confidence to display their unique style and bring a sense of freedom and instinct to their game, even in the face of the intimidating nature of major tournaments.
What is the World Cup schedule?
The opening matches of the group stage are scheduled for Thursday July 20 and the tournament will span across a span of two weeks, ending on Thursday August 3. Following the group stage, the top-performing teams from each group will advance to the round of 16, which will be contested 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.
In Auckland, the first semi-final is scheduled for Tuesday, August 15, while the other semi-final will be held on Wednesday, August 16 at the Accor Stadium in Sydney. The final will also be played at 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.
