Fran Kirby is determined to end her semi-final curse and leave a legacy for the women’s game.
Chelsea star Kirby was part of England ’s squad when they lost the World Cup semi finals in 2015 and 2019 and finished on the losing side against Holland in the Euros five years ago. But Kirby is determined to go one better this summer and reach the final as she also believes it can be a huge moment for the Lionesses if they can write their names into history.
England boss Sarina Wiegman’s side are set to play in front of another sold out stadium at Bramall Lane in their semi-final against Sweden while more than seven million viewers tuned in to see them beat Spain in the last round. Kirby said: “We know what our ambitions are as a team and that is to win the tournament. I don’t want to be another player who loses in a semi final and doesn’t get to the final of a major tournament with England.
“It’s in the back of the minds of a few of the girls who have been there. We’ve been in the four semi finals now but, for us, it’s about the present and making sure we’re not in that position again. It would mean everything to reach a final with this England team and for us who have been part of it for a long time I think it would top everything we’ve done so far.
“For me, I would love to win the trophy. 100 per cent. I’m a very competitive player when it comes to football so I would love to win. My sights are on winning the tournament but to do that we have to have a good performance in the semi-final.”
Kirby has already been part of a thrilling ride to the semi finals as they smashed 14 goals in the Group stages and beat Spain in the quarter finals in a dramatic contest. It has gripped the nation, the Lionesses are becoming household names and even getting cheered in the streets when they go out of their team hotel in Teddington, South West London.
But Kirby says winning the trophy at Wembley on Sunday week must be their ultimate aim to really build on the positive momentum which has been flowing through the whole tournament. Kirby added: “We’re going out for walks and people are clapping us as we walk past which has never happened before.
“It’s a bit surreal when you’re just walking down the street and people are out the windows clapping you. Hopefully it means that we’re doing people proud and we’re inspiring them and showing them what women’s football can do in this country. It’s massive for the women’s game in this country. First and foremost, I want to win a trophy regardless of how many people come out and watch or how many people are watching at home.
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“That comes with a little bit of added pressure in terms of making sure that we build that into the WSL after this tournament. I’m not saying that the opening game of the WSL is going to have 40,000 people there but in order to grow it we have to build and show women’s football is a sport that people should be going down and watching and hopefully we can bring that into the WSL.
“Most of the players in this tournament play a lot of football in the WSL so it is a great opportunity to see who they think is their favourite player and go down and watch them and that’s what we hope will happen.”
