[Albion] Fran Kirby retires from international football

[Bozza]

Fran Kirby has announced her retirement from international football with immediate effect before the European Championships.

The Brighton player, who has 77 caps for the Lionesses, has been a key figure for England for more than a decade.

Kirby was named in Sarina Weigman's squad for the Uefa Nations League matches against Portugal and Spain but was informed she would not be selected for the Euros starting on 2 July.

Fran Kirby: Lionesses star retires from England duty before Euro 2025

England attacking midfielder Fran Kirby retires from international football with immediate effect after being told she will not be in the Euro 2025 squad.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[One Teddy Maybank]

Great international career.
Hope she continues with our ladies for a few more seasons.

 

[zeetha]

Sad that she didn't get to be in the squad one more time, but I'm not surprised she wasn't picked for Euros and has therefore retired from internationals. No idea what her contract is with Brighton, but hope she stays. Certainly gone out for England in a better way than Earps!

 

[hart's shirt]

That's fair enough, Fran. An excellent international career. You've overcome a lot both on and off the pitch. Here's to many more seasons in the WSL.

It's a marked difference from Earps who spat the dummy when told she wasn't going to be first choice and has left Wiegman and the rest of the squad high and dry before the Euros with 2 back-up keepers with no international experience. Ego over team.

 

[putthatboarddown]

It’s a shame Fran won’t be in Switzerland, particularly as we’re going over to watch the first England game. Hopefully Parris will make the cut (and I’ll count Agyemang also if she’s in!)

 

[Charles 'Charley' Charles]

Sad that she didn't get to be in the squad one more time, but I'm not surprised she wasn't picked for Euros and has therefore retired from internationals. No idea what her contract is with Brighton, but hope she stays. Certainly gone out for England in a better way than Earps!

I believe from memory she signed for 3 years, it stands out as it is an unusally long contract in the womens game. I could very well be wrong though.

 

[rippleman]

That's a real shame. One of my all time favourites. She has overcome so many injuries and illnesses in her career and I'm sure that her arrival at BHAFC was a significant contributor to us achieving our highest ever WSL position last year. She has achieved so much in the game I think England are going to miss that experience in the Euros.

However, I hope that being pushed into international retirement will enable her to prolong her club career with us. I hope we make a coaching pathway available to her if that is what she desires.

Super Franny Kirby!

 

[hart's shirt]

Now Bright withdraws from the Euros with burnout.

In fairness, her lack of pace has been tested in recent games and she was never that quick anyway. But another senior figure in the squad gone. Not good.

I'm hoping Wiegman is now forced to give Maya Le Tissier the game time that her form and overall season deserves.

 

[METALMICKY]

Now Bright withdraws from the Euros with burnout.

In fairness, her lack of pace has been tested in recent games and she was never that quick anyway. But another senior figure in the squad gone. Not good.

I'm hoping Wiegman is now forced to give Maya Le Tissier the game time that her form and overall season deserves.

Her statement seems to say a lot without giving much away. "Physically and mentally not 100%" and mentions " pride and ego ". No specifics about injury and I've seen no reference to burn out. The timing also seems a little off. Is there some sort issue with the senior women's players?

 

[zeetha]

I hope not, especially just before a major tournament. She'd withdrawn from Nations League referencing burnout, so wouldn't surprise me if that was the case here still.

 

[rippleman]

Her statement seems to say a lot without giving much away. "Physically and mentally not 100%" and mentions " pride and ego ". No specifics about injury and I've seen no reference to burn out. The timing also seems a little off. Is there some sort issue with the senior women's players?

It does make you wonder if there is a problem. Bright has been a good player for Chelsea and England but she was just getting slower and slower as age was catching up with her and she was developing the turning circle of an oil tanker. She has been terribly exposed against quicker players this season.

If she doesn't feel she is up to playing for England any longer she should just retire and be done with it.

As to the bigger problem, yes there may be. Having been beaten by Spain in the last WC final I think Weigman should have done the decent thing. We would then have had the opportunity to recruit Emma Hayes and stop her going off to the USA and winning the Olympic gold medal (a tournament that England (GB) under Weigman couldn't even qualify for!)

Weigman made some strange decisions last night by starting THREE players who haven't kicked a ball all season (and forcing Super Fran into retirement). I think its time for her to move on. Probably too close to start of the tourney now but I'd still be asking Bompaster (Chelsea - domestic treble winners) or Slegers (Arsenal - Champions of Europe) if they would take temporary charge for the Euros.

Weigman guided England's lionesses to bring "football home" and she will always be remembered and respected for that. But when it's your time.............