England had to beat Italy to reach the dream final. For one of England's stars, Alessia Russo, this match had a personal dimension—her grandparents are from Italy.
- Russo grew up in Maidstone with deep ties to Italy—her grandfather Alfonso emigrated from Sicily to London in the 1950s, marrying an English schoolgirl. Her upbringing fused English grit with Italian flair, shaping her identity both on and off the field.
- England’s Euro 2025 quarter-final opponent Italy has personal significance: Russo plays for her adopted country against her ancestral homeland, a journey woven from her family’s history and footballing dreams.
- Her late grandfather Alfonso, a Sicilian immigrant and lifelong football lover, never saw her career take flight—Alzheimer’s clouded his final years. Yet even in decline, he could recall the youth teams he played for. It’s a poignant reminder of football’s timeless pull—how it crosses generations and nations, how it anchors memory, and how it still teaches us how to live.
Discover the full story of Alessia Russo's family.
