FRAN’S BACK! We caught a few words with returning Lionesses goalscorer Fran Kirby after England’s impressive win in Switzerland…
A comprehensive win, a clean sheet, fine football, controlled and calm and overall, looking way stronger and fitter – despite the sweltering sunshine and heat (still 28 degrees Celsius at 6pm) – than their Swiss hosts, it was very satisfying Saturday evening for Mark Sampson’s England side. There were several positives to take, one being the return to international action for Chelsea forward and fans’ favourite Fran Kirby. And she got a goal too. We had to congatulate her and so had a lovely, smiley chat after the game. Here’s a quick transcript of our chinwag…
SK: So, ’Fran’s back!’ How did it feel?
FK: Yeah it was nice. Obviously it’s been a long, long, journey. A frustrating one. But it’s great to be back playing, great to be back fit and yeah obviously it was nice to get the goal. I would have liked a few more. think I need to learn how to put the ball into the back of the net again! But delighted to be back with the girls and to get the win.
https://twitter.com/Lionesses/status/873633951864193025/video/1
https://twitter.com/Lionesses/status/873633951864193025/video/1
Guess who’s back… ????#Lionesses pic.twitter.com/hRRiPTLQsZ
— Lionesses (@Lionesses) June 10, 2017
SK: The one that came back off the cross bar, is that one that keeps going through your mind?
FK: Yeah, I think I just connected with it too well. In those situations, you’re better off scuffing it. I can’t change that now. It’s all of the crossbar challenges I’ve been doing in rehab. Me and the physio and Claire Rafferty have been out there for 20 minutes every day doing crossbar challenge, so I’m going to blame them!
SK: Does it feel like you’re building on your fitness, ready to peak come July?
FK: I’m still building on my fitness, yeah, even though I have been back playing with Chelsea, a year out is a long time and I do need to be careful with how much I’m playing and manage that. When I’m running around I feel good, I feel fit, so I’m overall happy.
SK: You and Jodie [Taylor], in particular, put in a lot of work closing down form the front, you unsettled Switzerland and it’s good when you get something from that?
FK: Yeah our game plan was to high press and we know that we’ve got the players around us that we know if we go they will back us up, with Jill, Jade Moore, Jordan, lots of energy. We knew that one of their weaknesses was that they don’t like being put under pressure, so every chance that we got we were trying to shut down the centre halves and shut down the goalkeeper. I think that worked numerous time during the game.
SK: Have you been worked hard this week, as June is going to be an intense training block for you?
FK: This week has been a little bit chilled, with players coming off the back off the Spring Series and straight into an international game, so it’s been a little bit more chilled, though sessions have been intense and hard because that’s what you get when you come into International camps. Though of course we’re all really looking forward to June and seeing how that’s going to go.
SK: Are you really getting the buzz for the Euros now, in camp, first game with the girls…
FK: Yeah it’s exciting times. Getting the first game out of the way and the first win, it is really exciting. We’re only going to build on that momentum and hopefully go into the Denmark game with the same attitude and momentum as this game and really build into the Euros. The buzz is really starting to settle in, we’re back all together and we know we’re going to be together a long time.
SK: What was the adrenaline rush like when you got the goal, after so long out, where does that rank in your goals scored?
FK: My job at the end of the day is to put the ball in the back of the net. So for me, you get a buzz whenever you put the ball in the back of the net whether it’s for Chelsea or for England. You do get a rush but you have to bring yourself back down to earth quickly and think, ‘Ok this is my job now, I’ve got to go and win the ball back again,’ so obviously I was delighted to get the goal but more importantly we put in a really good performance.
SK: Was it a disappointment that Ramona Bachmann [your Chelsea teammate] was not fit to play?
FK: Yeah, Rammy is a great, great player and a great, great person. We were all bit gutted when he heard that we wasn’t playing – obviously the Chelsea girls – because we want to be playing against the best players in the world but we were more disappointed for Ramona herself, to hear she’s picked up a little injury. But she’s going back to Chelsea and she’s going to get the best medical care that she can and hopefully she comes back fitter and stronger because she’s a work horse.
You may have noticed that there is no Fran Kirby sticker in the Panini Euro 2017 album, so look what an ace dad made for his Fran fan daughter! How cool is this? (We did suggest it but we he beat us too it & did a mint job.)
https://twitter.com/ammocurtis/status/873822026829574144/photo/1
More reaction from Biel/Bienne later, this place (and the lakeside) is so beautiful, we got distracted and so have been for a run and a paddle this morning instead. #sorrynotsorry
https://twitter.com/SheKicksdotnet/status/873516777136951296/photo/1
