Footballer Alessia Russo says she hopes England's Euros triumph has helped to inspire the next generation.

The Kent woman, who made five appearances from the bench and bagged four goals during the home tournament, helped the women's team beat Germany 2-1 in the final on Sunday in front of a record-breaking Wembley crowd.

Miss Russo’s success has now paved the way for other women and girls to lace their boots up and help the women's game evolve even further.

The 23-year-old has been dubbed as football's answer to Emma Raducanu - the Orpington tennis player last year having won the US Open - and Miss Russo says she would relish being able to get the same sort of commercial opportunities as Miss Raducanu has enjoyed since her success which saw her crowned BBC Sports Personality of the Year in December.

“Yeah of course. I think it’s a huge part,” the Manchester United forward told Sky.

“As a female athlete, you are a role model.

“You have to inspire the young girls - or else you are not doing your job. That’s how I see myself off the pitch.

"You have to inspire the young girls - or else you are not doing your job..."

“I just want to inspire girls to go out there and play, and get involved in football - or whatever sport it may be.

“I just let my football on the pitch do the talking and then, off the pitch, just try and encourage and inspire the next generation.”

But Miss Russo says playing football will always be her main priority.

She said: “For me, football is my priority.

“None of this would happen without it, that’s all I can focus on - playing well on the pitch and enjoying every second of training and getting better as a player.

“Then, the rest, everyone else can deal with. It’s not for me.

“I just deal with the football.”

Maidstone-born Miss Russo praised her family - including brothers, Giorgio and Luca, and parents Mario and Carol - for the support they've given her.

She said: "Absolutely, I think it’s huge credit to the family. There’s no point, getting too ahead of yourself.

“We have just won a tournament - and it’s amazing - but there’s still loads more we want to achieve.”

Kent's Euro 2022 star backed calls for girls to play football at school after the government refused to ensure they could partake in the sport.

Miss Russo signed the open letter, along with her Lionesses squad, to Prime Minister hopefuls Rishi Sunak and Liz Truss asking them to pledge to backing girls football.

"It’s crazy it’s not even a thing already,” said Miss Russo who started out playing for Bearsted FC and the Gillingham-based Soccer Elite FA.

“I remember, when I was a kid, my route into football was through boys’ football which was okay for me.

“But other girls might not want to get involved, unless it’s a girls’ team, which is completely understandable.

“I think that - as we’ve just achieved something great - we want to achieve something even greater and achieve something for the young girls out there that want to get involved in football but feel like they can’t.”

There has been plenty for her to deal with but she hasn’t decided something quite important just yet - where she will keep her winners’ medal.

When asked where she planned to keep it, she replied: “I don’t know, I need to figure this one out!

“I’m very clumsy and a bit forgetful so I need to put it somewhere safe.”

Yesterday it was announced the striker would be honoured in her hometown of Maidstone.

A room at the new Mote Park cafe and visitor centre is to be named after her, the borough council has declared, and Miss Russo will be invited to officially open it.

Students from her old schools - East Farleigh Primary and St Simon Stock Catholic School - as well as players from her old team, Bearsted FC, are set to join her.