England World Cup Preview: Fran Kirby

Reading’s Fran Kirby, one of the youngest members of the squad along with roommate Alex Greenwood, describes the response to her inclusion as having gone a bit mad, with messages from team-mates, family and fans. Her aims are to gain World Cup experience, play alongside experienced players, get some minutes on the board and enjoy herself. She is conscious of what her selection means as a WSL 2 player: it is nice, she says, for the girls to see that you can play for England no matter which league you are in so long as you are performing, and she hopes to promote the second division and raise awareness that its standard is good. Being the first Reading player at a World Cup is a massive achievement for her and the club. A good roommate, she jokes, buys sweets.