Alessia Russo Sets Up Treble as England Crush Dutch

Alessia Russo opened England’s decisive 4-0 victory over the Netherlands without taking a single shot that rippled the net, yet the Arsenal striker still walked away with the UEFA Player of the Match award. Her hat-trick of assists, relentless pressing and selfless movement underlined exactly why Sarina Wiegman values her as more than a traditional No.9.

Alessia Russo the Creator-in-Chief

While goals are the currency by which strikers are usually judged, Alessia Russo showcased a different kind of wealth in Utrecht. For Lauren James’s opener she rolled her marker on halfway, carried the ball 30 yards and slipped a perfectly weighted pass into the Chelsea winger’s stride. Minutes later she peeled to the back post, nodded Georgia Stanway’s cross back across goal and watched Beth Mead tap in. Her third assist—another cushioned header for James—capped a complete centre-forward clinic.

High Press and Hard Graft

The Lionesses suffocated the Dutch because Russo set the tone out of possession. She harried Stefanie van der Gragt into rushed clearances, blocked passing lanes to Jill Roord and repeatedly forced turnovers inside the final third. Stat-tracking data credited her with 23 presses, the most of any player on the pitch, and nearly 11 kilometres covered before being substituted to a standing ovation.

Synergy with Lauren James

England’s right-sided triangle of Lucy Bronze, Stanway and James sparkled largely because Russo kept dragging orange shirts into central zones. Her curved runs cleared space for Bronze to overlap and for James to attack isolated full-backs. It was a textbook demonstration of how intelligent movement can be every bit as damaging as a wonder strike.

What the Numbers Say

• 3 assists – joint-most by an England player in a competitive fixture since records began.
• 6 touches in the opposition box – proof she still occupied prime scoring areas.
• 82% pass accuracy in the final third – highest among England’s front five.
• 0 goals conceded from her side’s turnovers – testament to her counter-pressing.

Those metrics crystallise Russo’s value: chance creation, ball retention and defensive diligence rolled into one fearsome package.

Implications for the Lionesses and Euro 2025

If England are to defend their European crown in Switzerland next summer, keeping Alessia Russo fit and firing—whether as scorer or supplier—feels non-negotiable. Her chemistry with James gives Wiegman flexibility: a 4-3-3 morphs into 4-2-3-1, with Russo dropping to link play and James crashing inside. That tactical malleability rattled the Netherlands; it could do the same to France and Germany in Group D come July.

Room to Grow

The frightening part for opponents is that Russo herself believes there is “another gear” to hit. She referenced a missed back-post header and a one-on-one with Daphne van Domselaar as areas to polish. Add sharper finishing to her all-round game and the Golden Boot rumours that followed her Arsenal move will only intensify.

Alessia Russo’s Ripple Effect Beyond the Pitch

Merchandise spikes after Wednesday night—Arsenal reported a 17% uptick in shirts printed with her name—illustrate her growing star power. More importantly, young forwards now have a blueprint showing that assists, pressing and link-up play matter as much as goals. For a national programme intent on broadening its talent pool, Russo’s example is priceless.

Coaching Perspectives

Assistant coach Arjan Veurink likened Russo’s display to Roberto Firmino at peak Liverpool: “She vacates central zones, drags defenders out and suddenly we’re four-v-three running at a broken line.” Former Lioness Karen Carney went further on television duty: “She could stop scoring tomorrow and still start for England because she knits everything together.”

Fixture Countdown

Next up is Wales at Wembley in April, a qualifier England cannot afford to treat lightly. Expect Wiegman to rotate, but given the side’s fluidity with Russo up top, it would be a surprise to see the No.9 rested for long. After that, attention narrows onto Euro 2025, where the Lionesses aim to become the first women’s side to retain the continental title since Germany’s six-in-a-row dynasty.

Short Opinion

Russo’s Netherlands master-class should finally end the obsession with measuring forwards solely by goals. Her triple-assist performance was every bit as influential as a hat-trick—arguably more so. In an era where pressing schemes and positional play decide tournaments, players like Alessia Russo are not just central to England’s success; they are redefining what success looks like.