There will be plenty of familiar faces staring back at Fran Kirby as she and England line up for their UEFA Women’s Euro 2022 semi-final against Sweden – but the forward promises to treat them with respect.
Chelsea will have representation on both sides as Kirby comes up against club captain Magdalena Eriksson and recently departed defender Jonna Anderson.
A past and present Chelsea goalkeeper will battle it out for a place between the sticks with former Blue Hedvig Lindahl having been preferred to current Chelsea no.2 Zecira Muscovic in every game.
READ MORE: How you can still get tickets for England's Women's Euro 2022 semi-final against Sweden
“I think it's more just the respect. Obviously, I've had amazing opportunities to play with Magda, with Hedvig, with Jonna, and I know how amazing characters that they are,” Kirby said.
“I know Hedvig is one of the toughest goalkeepers that I've come up against. I think that's been the case for both Chelsea goalkeepers Hedvig and Ann [Ann Katrin-Berger, current Chelsea and Germany keeper}.
“And so I know a lot about her, and I know a lot about Magda and Jonna, and I think that what they bring to the team, it's incredible, the characteristics, the leadership that they have.
“So it's more of respect rather than going, ‘oh, I know how to beat these players’, because you just don't know in the game, what they're doing, or what they're thinking.”
Sweden are the top-ranked side in the competition sitting second behind the USA in FIFA’s world rankings, with England ranked eighth.
Peter Gerhardsson coached Sweden to Olympic silver last year in Tokyo as Kirby’s Team GB were knocked out at the quarterfinal stage.
Kirby has tasted defeat in three previous major semi-finals with England, before losing the third-place play-off at the 2019 World Cup to Sweden.
Two players who are a doubt with injury for Sweden are captain Caroline Seger and star forward Kosovare Asllani, with the former involved when Sweden knocked out the Lionesses the last time England hosted the Women’s Euros in 2005.
And Kirby is fully aware of the boost it would give England if they were to miss out.
She added: “They have a massive impact. I think we've seen that in previous tournaments. Seger, she is an amazing player, she's got so much experience.
“She's led that team to multiple medals, tournament finals, semifinals. I think she's the one that makes the team tick and glue together.
“And then obviously Asllani, the qualities that she has on the ball, the chances that she creates, the way that she moves in and around the defence, it's very difficult to mark her.
“If they're a doubt to play then it's great for us, but obviously it's not great for everyone else watching because I think they're two players that bring amazing qualities to the game that everyone wants to watch and everyone wants to see. But I mean, for us, it'd be good if they don't play.”
Tickets are on sale now for fans to experience a history-making tournament that aims to unite football and communities and amplify the growth of the women’s game. www.uefa.com/womenseuro/ticketing
