‘National treasure’ Fran Kirby lights up Wembley in scintillating preview of England’s home Euros

Arsenal v Chelsea: The Vitality Women's FA Cup Final
Chelsea FC via Getty Images

Chelsea boss Emma Hayes has described Fran Kirby as a “national treasure” and, on the evidence of Sunday’s Women’s FA Cup final, it is hard to disagree.

Kirby, along with her strike partner Sam Kerr, terrorised Arsenal and it is not an exaggeration to say the pair could have scored five or six between them. Kirby hit the woodwork twice and Kerr struck the bar, while also forcing Arsenal goalkeeper Manuela Zinsberger into a string of fine saves.

In the end ‘Kerrby’ had to settle for just the three goals, with Kirby scoring inside three minutes and Kerr finding the net twice in the second-half as Chelsea completed their first ever domestic treble.

“The front two were out of this world,” said Hayes. “I said to Fran it was the best game I’ve ever seen her play for Chelsea and Sam’s confidence is growing.

“We’ve painted Wembley blue, it’s certainly a Chelsea day today and our performance was absolutely superb.”

If Chelsea painted Wembley blue then Kirby was the artist as she put in a performance that should get England fans excited ahead of next summer’s home Euros.

The 28-year-old is in the form of her life right now and at times Arsenal just simply couldn’t live with her movement.

England will hope that it was a taste of what is to come next summer, with Kirby having the 40,000 at Wembley under her spell and watching her every move. Every major tournament needs a poster player and it feels like the Euros’ must be her.

“She’s been telling me for weeks what I was to expect today and she delivered above and beyond,” said Hayes.

“And I’ll say it again, she’s a national treasure. Look after her.”

The FA via Getty Images

Kirby’s form is all the more impressive when you consider where she has come from. Back in November 2019 she was struck down by pericarditis, an inflammation of the fluid-filled sac around the heart, and in an interview with Standard Sport in October she revealed she couldn’t even walk up the stairs.

On Sunday, such a time must have felt like a distant memory for Kirby, who walked off the field to a standing ovation when she was taken off towards the end of the final.

“It’s amazing,” said Kirby. “For me, winning trophies is what I came to this club to do and what I wanted to help this club do.

“All the wins are on the same level, it doesn’t matter what I’m winning. I have the same end result and that’s to win.”

Kirby has made no secret of her desire to win with England too and the challenge for boss Sarina Wiegman is to get the best out of her.

I felt that every time we went forward we were going to score a goal.

Emma Hayes

In the past, the Lionesses have not always managed that and they would do well to take a leaf out of Chelsea’s book.

The arrival of Kerr has taken Kirby’s game to another level as she has been able to use the Australian as a foil to play off. Hayes has previously compared the pair to Manchester United legends Andy Cole and Dwight Yorke, and it’s easy to see why.

“Fran is at her best when she plays off a striker and is able to just float in those key areas and I just thought everything she did was so dynamic,” said Hayes. “I felt that every time we went forward we were going to score a goal.

“What I see in Fran is a maturity to her game. She’s played in every big game and I think for that reason she just has the confidence in her abilities to deliver again and again and again.”

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