Roundup of the best reaction to England’s 4-0 thrashing of Sweden in 2022 UEFA Women’s Euro.
After surviving a scrappy start at Bramall Lane, Sheffield, Beth Mead and Lucy Bronze scored either side of half-time before Alessio Russo and Fran Kirby wrapped up a ruthlessly clinical victory to send the Lionesses to their third UEFA Women’s Euro Final.
Their triumph also ended their semi-final hoodoo after having exited their last three major tournaments at the last-four stage, which sent the nation into wild celebrations led by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge who celebrated on Twitter.
Congratulations @Lionesses on making it to the #WEURO2022 final on Sunday. The entire country is so proud of everything you’re achieving. We believe in you and will be with you all the way! W
— The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge (@KensingtonRoyal) July 26, 2022
The Lionesses’ success also didn’t go unnoticed across the footballing world with many current and former players like Harry Kane plus Gary Lineker plus clubs sharing in the celebrations on Twitter with various tweets.
Yesss @Lionesses ! Bring on the final ?
— Harry Kane (@HKane) July 26, 2022
Yessssssssssssssssssssssssss thank you, thank you, thank you. One more to go @Lionesses. So so proud https://t.co/xvM2Bj94eR
— Casey Stoney MBE ? (@CaseyStoney) July 26, 2022
Get in! Come on @Lionesses ??
— Gary Lineker ?? (@GaryLineker) July 26, 2022
Congratulations @Lionesses… now bring it home! ? https://t.co/ld6QmQrN4b
— Mason Mount (@masonmount_10) July 26, 2022
HUGE congratulations to @England @Lionesses what a performance. What a win. What a tournament so far. The semi finals have been the stumbling block for years, now in the FINAL! Sarina Weigman has done what we knew she could do…. Now for Sunday! Now for the final! #ENG
— Eniola Aluko (@EniAlu) July 26, 2022
What a performance by @Lionesses tonight. A well deserved #WEURO2022 final coming up. Congratulations to all the players and staff ?????????
— Wayne Rooney (@WayneRooney) July 26, 2022
That game was absolutely insane to commentate on @5liveSport
Goals were outrageous.
Well bloody played @Lionesses— Izzy Christiansen (@IzzyChr17) July 26, 2022
So many good performances last night! What a team ? https://t.co/HMKpesdz3Z
— Sue Smith (@suesmith8) July 27, 2022
???????? 4-0 prediction… 4-0 win and we are off to Wembley Sunday! So proud of this team & the nation. The support has been crazy!!!!!!@Lionesses@WEURO2022 @BBCSport pic.twitter.com/XDZ4MQuyOQ
— Fara Williams MBE (@fara_williams47) July 26, 2022
4-0 win for England over Sweden. ✅
The most-attended UEFA Women’s EURO semi-final in history. ✅
England into the final. ✅
Bramall Lane, Sheffield over and out as a @WEURO2022 venue. ?? pic.twitter.com/OHf4wHZ6bs
— Sheffield United (@SheffieldUnited) July 26, 2022
? Congratulations @Lionesses, we’re going to the #WEURO2022 final!
Special well done to the @ArsenalWFC players!@leahcwilliamson ©️@bmeado9 ⚽️@lilkeets ⚡️@lottewubbenmoy ?#WeAreTheWood pic.twitter.com/tL0DdEqLaw
— Boreham Wood FC (@BOREHAM_WOODFC) July 26, 2022
Sheffield-born England defender, Harry Maguire meanwhile was in attendance at the match roaring the Lionesses on in a bumper crowd of 28,624 fans.
Great to see @HarryMaguire93 watching our @Lionesses at Bramall Lane this evening! ??????? pic.twitter.com/KbPEfVqS1n
— England (@England) July 26, 2022
Even footballing presenters from Jeff Stelling to Reshmin Chowdhury plus more got in on the reaction with their own messages of support for the Lionesses.
Russo goal brilliant improvisation but for me Lauren Hemp star of the show. Thought they were all great but she was exceptional.
— Jeff Stelling (@JeffStelling) July 27, 2022
Yesss Fran – you legend!! ⚽️
In other news @fara_williams47 predicted 4-0……???@BBCSport #eng #swe #England #WEURO2022— Reshmin Chowdhury (@ReshminTV) July 26, 2022
Such a joy to see Fran Kirby in this form after everything she’s been through. Outstanding performance tonight ??????
— Eilidh Barbour ?? (@EilidhBarbour) July 26, 2022
Already cannot waaaaaait for this!!!! https://t.co/VqwLHZDcWn
— Kelly Somers (@KellySomers) July 26, 2022
I need to go to bed but just look at these pictures from @GettySport
No words. ?❤️ pic.twitter.com/ARdSzrAERK
— Emma Sanders (@em_sandy) July 27, 2022
Next stop….??????? W.E.M.B.L.E.Y ???????
Still pinching myself after last night. What a performance by the Lionesses! Join us for the Euro2022 Final on Sunday @BBCOne 4pm.
Featuring mystic @fara_williams47 ??#weuro2022 #lionesses pic.twitter.com/1rSQzMwklf
— Jo Currie (@JoCurrie) July 27, 2022
Ex England international and BBC pundit, Ian Wright post-match spoke about the importance of creating a “legacy” for the young generations, especially within P.E. across schools around the country in order to allow further barriers to be broken down and ensure women can play football.
His words provoked an outpouring of support of Twitter led by Sky Sports presenter, Michelle Owen who described his words as “spot on.”
What @IanWright0 said there is spot on. Growing up the boys didn’t want to play with a girl, the coach of the boys team would never play me. Girls weren’t meant to play. Ellen White is emotional for a reason, the support, interest and growth of the game is amazing. We belong ?
— Michelle Owen (@MichelleOwen7) July 26, 2022
‘We’ve got to make sure girls are able to play football. Girls should be able to play. This has to leave a legacy.’ – @IanWright0 #WEURO2022 https://t.co/AlFIaEo7DV
— Women in Sport (@Womeninsport_uk) July 26, 2022
“There’s no legacy from this if girls can’t play”@IanWright0 absolutely nails it ?@AnchoriansFC are the biggest #grassroots girls football club in the country… And we will always champion #GirlsFootball and opportunities for #WomenInSport #LetGirlsPlay #GrassrootsGirls pic.twitter.com/K8HsJ7Sfsg
— Girls Football⚽ (@AnchorianAngels) July 26, 2022
Such important words from @IanWright0 after the game. This has to leave a legacy & be a turning point for #WomensFootball? https://t.co/R2bRdoEOhH
— Brockwell United FC (@BrockwellUnited) July 26, 2022
Well said @IanWright0. Let them play. ?? https://t.co/6kYKIevMB3
— Gary Lineker ?? (@GaryLineker) July 27, 2022
Russo’s backheeled goal kick to put England 3-0 up however stole the show and attracted widespread media attention, including from current and former players like Chelsea’s Sam Kerr and Chris Kamara plus many football media stars.
Not gonna lie, that was lit from Russo
— Sam Kerr (@samkerr1) July 26, 2022
Fran Kirby makes it 4-0 ? but what about Alessia Russo with the cheeky back heel ????????? ?it’s coming home??
— Chris Kamara (@chris_kammy) July 26, 2022
Alessia Russo! That goal was dirrrtyyy? #WEURO2022 ??????? ??
— Anita Asante (@NicenNeetz) July 26, 2022
Alessia Russo!!! The absolute audacity. I cannot get over what I’ve just seen. WOW WOW WOW what a goal!???????????? @Lionesses @alessiarusso7 #ENG
— Eniola Aluko (@EniAlu) July 26, 2022
What an absolutely sumptuous goal. Take a massive bow Alessia Russo.
— Simon Thomas (@SimonThomasTV) July 26, 2022
What a night. Brilliant goalkeeping from Earps, a magical goal from Russo, and @Lionesses batter Sweden 4-0 to reach Sunday’s final at Wembley. We’ll be there live on @talkSPORT pic.twitter.com/KxUf2hEPkx
— Adrian Durham (@talkSPORTDrive) July 26, 2022
Wow wow wow @alessiarusso7 that was one of those ones, that we can say we were there. What a goal, wow ? I was on my ? in Comms. Do people fully understand this goal. I’ve watched it 20 times already. #Eng #Lionesses #Russo
— Lianne Sanderson (@liannesanderson) July 27, 2022
HANG IT IN THE LOUVRE ??!! WHAT A GOAL, WHAT A PERFORMANCE… THIS TEAM ???????❤️ #Lionesses https://t.co/vBc4HYSIfF
— Carly Telford ? (@carlytelford1) July 26, 2022
RUUUSSSOOOOOOOO RUUUSSSOOO RUUUSSSOOOOO
— Millie Turner (@MillieTurner_) July 26, 2022
Naaaaaaa @alessiarusso7 is taking the piss ???????????????????????????????????????????????????
— C h e l c e e G r i m e s (@ChelceeGrimes) July 26, 2022
Russo’s goal even attracted the attention of comedian, Omid Djalili who couldn’t believe what he had witnessed.
Are you kidding me with this shit Russo, pulling a Thierry Henry AND nutmeg a top keeper like that? In a semi final??Unbelievable. We’ll be talking about this goal for years. And #CFC’s Fran Kirby with a chip from outside the area? #ENG
MEN observe the attacking creativity ??— Omid Djalili (@omid9) July 26, 2022
Aoife Mannion who is Russo’s club teammate at Manchester United was just as astounded at her backheel goal, as she tweeted:
Sorry did Lessi Russo just score a back heel in a European Semi Final ????
— Aoife Mannion (@aoifemannion_) July 26, 2022
Utd cheekily replied to Mannion’s tweet to confirm that Russo did indeed produce a backheel goal in a semi-final.
She really did ?
? @AlessiaRusso7 #MUWomen || #WEURO2022 https://t.co/WkXl9e7vH5
— Manchester United Women (@ManUtdWomen) July 26, 2022
The Lionesses’ performance and Russo’s goal even made the world’s top team – USA sit up and take note with high praise from many players past and present across Twitter.
Wow. Wow. Wow. Quality final 1/3. Patience and ? @Lionesses. #WEURO2022
— Carli Lloyd (@CarliLloyd) July 26, 2022
I dreamt of scoring a goal like that my whole life. Never happened. @alessiarusso7 take a bow. Go on England.
— Abby Wambach (@AbbyWambach) July 26, 2022
All 4 goals today have been classssssyyyy #eng
— Heather O’Reilly (@HeatherOReilly) July 26, 2022
Fr lmaOOOOOOOOOOOFFFFFFFFFF comically disgusting. The nerve, my gawd ?? https://t.co/5t2W50Okke
— Megan Rapinoe (@mPinoe) July 27, 2022
Discussion about this post