ZURICH – England must play fearlessly in their crucial Women’s Euros Group D match against the Netherlands on Wednesday, striker Alessia Russo said, insisting the team’s belief remains strong despite their opening 2-1 defeat to France.
The loss marked England’s first group-stage defeat at a European Championship in a decade, leaving the defending champions at risk of an early exit. A loss to the Netherlands, combined with a French victory over Wales, would see England eliminated before the knockout rounds.
“Massively,” Russo said on Tuesday when asked if England needed to play without fear. “We want everyone to be as free as possible on the pitch. It’s a big part of who we are as a team. We have players who can create something out of nothing, so keeping everyone in a good headspace is key.”
Both Russo and manager Sarina Wiegman acknowledged the difficulty of their group, which features three teams ranked in FIFA’s top 11. Despite the setback against France, Russo remained optimistic.
“It’s tournament football—there are highs and lows,” she said. “We faced a strong France side, but we know we can raise our standards.”
Wiegman, who led the Netherlands to Euro 2017 glory, anticipates an “intense game” as England seek redemption. “We knew this group would be tough,” she said. “Our focus is on executing our game plan, staying connected, and doing everything to win.”
When asked if she emphasized the high stakes to her squad, Wiegman replied: “We don’t talk about consequences—just our strategy and how to exploit the Netherlands’ weaknesses.”
England’s final group match is against debutants Wales on Sunday.