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England striker Alessia Russo has admitted to steering clear of social media during major tournaments, having previously been ensnared by the "trap" of reading "really damaging" comments.

Following tennis player Katie Boulter's revelations about the extent of abuse in her sport, including death threats against her and her family, Arsenal's Russo expressed solidarity with Boulter as she prepares for the upcoming Euros. She emphasised the importance of focusing on the opinions that truly matter for her mental well-being and performance on the pitch.

"I think every player might have a different story about that side of the game, but it's definitely one that can be really damaging," Russo remarked.

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She shared her own experiences with online negativity: "I have faced it in the past and I think most players here have. When I was younger I probably got sucked into it more. I read it more than I should have and listened to it more than I should have. The only opinions that matter are my team-mates, my coaches and my family."

Russo stressed the significance of relying on her support system: "I think you have to remember that they are the people you need to lean on in tough times. As I've got older, I understand more what works for me. In my first Euros I was on social media and I would have a look, have a scroll, and I got caught in a trap sometimes."

She then detailed the changes she made to avoid distractions: "Going into the World Cup, I completely came off everything and I had people to run my Instagram. I just focused on the tournament. It's personal preference and whatever works for the team. Staying away from it and staying focused as a team is what works for me."

Manchester United's Ella Toone has emphasised the importance of personal choice when it comes to handling tournament pressure, stating: "It's individual. Whenever we go to a tournament it's individual. It's what people want to do."

She continued by acknowledging the diversity in her teammates' approaches: "I know that my decision might be different to someone else's and I have to respect that decision. I do like to scroll on Instagram. But I know other people turn their phones off."

Toone highlighted the mutual respect within the squad: "We have that conversation and all know how each other wants to go through the tournament. We respect each other's decision. If I see something on Instagram I'm not going to tell someone or blurt it out to the team because they don't want to see it. I think it's a personal preference."

With the European title defence on the horizon, starting with their Zurich opener against France on July 5, most of Sarina Wiegman's squad – except for three US-based players who will join next week – are now preparing.

Reflecting on the evolution of both their friendship and women's football since the Lionesses' historic triumphs, Russo noted: "We understand this is like a new England,".

Russo also spoke about the dynamic within the team: "We have lots of different players with different strengths and it's about bringing all of that together and using each other's strengths. New players are coming in and you have seen the impact they have made straight away in big games.

"I think we have evolved in many different ways, tactically. But in terms of having that energy from young players coming through, it's something that's really exciting."