Fran Kirby shows what makes her integral to England in 10-0 thrashing of Luxembourg

Fran Kirby was only on the pitch for 71 minutes, withdrawn in the second half with the World Cup qualifier against Luxembourg already won. It was more than enough time to show that, if she is fit, England’s chances of winning the European Championships improve dramatically.

She is that important. Keeping her fit is the challenge. This was her first England cap since playing Canada back in April and even at club level she is being wrapped in a protective blanket. Such is her importance, she must be handled with care between now and June. Put simply, she makes England better whenever she plays.

It has not taken long for Sarina Wiegman to realise what every England manager who has picked her has known - the 29-year-old is not just a good player, she is someone who makes those around her better. Even in a mismatch of this epic scale, when England can score ten goals and totally outclass their opponents, Kirby showed what makes her special.

She is not just capable of scoring goals, she creates them too, operating in the creative number 10 role England so desperately need, particularly when they are involved in tighter matches against the other tournament winning contenders next summer.

Mark Sampson knew it when he first called her into the international side. So did Phil Neville, who made her the deep lying striker behind Ellen White at the 2019 World Cup. Kirby was a little subdued in France, but we had no idea of the health problems that would put her future in doubt later that year.

Kirby has been integral to this England side since 2015, establishing herself at the Euros in 2017 that year as one of the best in Europe, It is not a coincidence that the national team’s most impressive results have tended to come when she is playing.

The slump in results since that run to the semi final defeat to the USA in France coincided with Kirby’s injury and health problems, which ruled her out of far too many games.

It is the way she makes space for herself, floating around in the small pockets between defence and midfield that make her such a potent weapon. There is not a player in England with better game awareness, scanning the pitch for teammates or opposition defenders with speed and precision.

That is why Ellen White scored her second goal against Luxembourg and her 43rd for England (just three behind record holder Kelly Smith). Against Macedonia, England did not take their chances, but sometimes the final pass did not make those opportunities as simple as they could have been.

It is different when Kirby is pulling the strings, as she showed here. Receiving the ball from Alex Greenwood with her back to goal, Kirby’s first touch took the ball away from her marker, allowing her to spin around to face the goal. She already knew where White was so could make a pass without a moment’s hesitation - that is the key to the what happened next.

The move was premeditated and perfectly executed. It enabled her to poke a pass on to England Number 9, who did not have to break stride or adjust her body shape to sweep a first time shot beyond the goalkeeper. Luxembourg were sliced open because of the speed and accuracy with which England had moved the ball and that was down to Kirby.

This was not a difficult game for the Lionesses, but that does not make the skill and application of it less impressive. Kirby’s touch and pass would have been too much for far better teams than Luxembourg to contain.

Wiegman knows what she has. As soon as Kirby was fit, she came into the side, replacing Beth Mead in the starting line up that waltzed to victory over North Macedonia. There was no hesitation, no question.

The Chelsea player was going to play against Luxembourg even though the unfortunate Mead had done little wrong on her own recall to the side.

Had it not been for injuries and illness, Kirby would have far more than her 47 caps, but rather than bemoan her misfortune, we should celebrate the fact she has returned for club and country.

Diagnosed with Pericarditis in 2019, Kirby could have died. There were genuine fears she would never play again, her career over at the age of 27. She has not only fought back from that horrendous and stressful episode, the physical suffering inflamed by the mental battle that followed, she looks as good as ever.

As Emma Hayes, her Chelsea manager, said as co commentator on ITV on Tuesday night, as long as England, as well as her club, handle her recovery well, Kirby will influence every single game she plays.

She is worth protecting, worth indulging. She had three assists before half time, also providing two dangerous, outswinging corners from the right hand side which led to goals for Nikita Parris and Alex Greenwood. She does not take corners for Chelsea, something Hayes laughed about saying she might have to reconsider.

The fact that Wiegman decided to deploy Kirby in a slightly deeper lying role is also significant. It shows she wants her on the ball, more involved in the build up play, linking midfield with White, as well as the wide players outside her.

It is a huge compliment. Now all she has to do is stay fit. Easier said than done, but Wiegman will be keeping everything crossed that she does. England needs her.

Match report: Lionesses dominate from start to finish against poor opposition

By Tom Garry

England continued their ruthless start to their Women’s World Cup qualifying campaign under new head coach Sarina Wiegman as they emphatically hit 10 goals away against lowly Luxembourg.

It was a second comprehensive but straightforward victory out of two for Dutch coach Wiegman, who began work in her role on Sept 1 and could scarcely have been given two gentler opening fixtures to start life with the Lionesses.

Luxembourg, ranked 122nd in the world, offered no attacking threat whatsoever against England, who are eighth in the world rankings and have reached the semi-finals of their past three major tournaments.

After England had 48 shots against minnows North Macedonia on Friday – scoring from eight of them – Wiegman called for her players to be more clinical in the final third, and they did look sharper and more incisive in the first half.

Chelsea defender Millie Bright –one of three England players to score twice – said it was a patient display from England: “She [Wiegman] wants us to remain composed, be relentless, be clinical and have that little bit more composure in the final third. We created a lot of chances, we could have scored more again.

“It’s about remaining patient in these sorts of games, biding time and then, when the opportunity comes, putting it in the back of the net. It’s a great foundation for us moving forward.”

Ellen White also hit a brace to move within just three goals of Kelly Smith’s all-time England Women goals record (46), firstly meeting Lauren Hemp’s first-time cross to the near post with a classic first-time finish across goal into the far corner, before supplying another first-time finish to roll home from Fran Kirby’s neat pass.

Arsenal winger Nikita Parris headed in England’s third goal from a corner, before another right-wing corner was only half-cleared by the hosts and was confidently volleyed in low by centre-back Alex Greenwood for the fourth.

In the continued absence of injured captain Steph Houghton, Wiegman gave the armband to Arsenal’s Leah Williamson again and she excelled in midfield, setting up regular chances. After half-time, Greenwood – on the night of her 50th cap – fired in a deflected effort from long range to make it 5-0, before Luxembourg defender Jessica Berscheid turned substitute Beth Mead’s cross into the net for an own goal for the sixth, and Bright added the seventh as she headed in her first senior international goal.

In stoppage time, Bright nodded in her second, before full-back Rachel Daly netted an emotional goal, following the death of her father last week, and Chelsea’s Beth England bundled in the 10th to complete the rout.

Wiegman, who led Holland to Euro 2017 glory on home soil four years ago, praised Daly after her tough time personally, adding:

“It [her goal] is really special. It’s a very emotional time in her life, very sad, but how she has focused on football this week is really incredible, she’s just delivered and tonight she delivered again. She scored and we were so happy for her.

“I’m really happy with the overall performance. You had 21 players in the final third in the second half and that is so hard to get through small spaces and still we get 10 goals. When we lost the ball we got it back in transition within five seconds and I was very happy with that.”

Match details

Luxembourg (4-4-1-1): Schlimm; Albert, Kremer, Berscheid, De Lemos (Schon, 78); Abreu (Mendes, 89), Marques (Derisevic, 89), Miller, Graca; Kocan (Raths, 45); Garcia (De Bruyn, 62)

Subs not used: Becker, Krier, Tiberi, Have, Thil, Kremer

Yellow cards: Miller, De Bruyn

England (4-1-2-3): Earps 6; Daly 7, Bright 7, Greenwood 8 (Wubben-Moy 6, 59), Stokes 7; Williamson 8; Toone 7 (Scott 6, 81), Kirby 8 (Stanway 6, 71); Parris 8, White 8 (England 7, 58), Hemp 8 (Mead 8, 59)

Subs not used: Charles, MacIver (gk), Zelem, Staniforth, Telford (gk), Salmon, Carter

Yellow cards: Mead

Referee: Aleksandra Cesen (Slovenia)

As it happened

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08:23 PM

That's all from me...

But read Tom Garry's match report for a full recap of this evening's events.

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08:09 PM

Well, that was more than one-sided

England dominated from start to finish and quite frankly probably should have scored more than the 10 goals they did.

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08:07 PM

GOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAL! (England) Luxembourg 0 England 10

The Lionesses make it three goals in three minutes to end it. A cross comes into the box and England nods it home.

Brutal night for Luxembourg.

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08:06 PM

GOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAL! (Daly) Luxembourg 0 England 9

A cross to the back post is headed across goal and Daly hits it home from close range!

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08:04 PM

GOOOOOOOAAAAAAL! (Bright) Luxembourg 0 England 8

Bright has her second goal og the evening! She latches onto the header, directing the ball into the back of the net.

England have eight, just as they did last match.

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08:03 PM

90 mins: Luxembourg 0 England 7

England win their 16th corner of the evening. Stanway picks out Bright and then another corner follows.

There will be four minutes of added time.

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08:01 PM

88 mins: Luxembourg 0 England 7

Stanway nearly sticks the ball in the top corner from long rage but it goes just over the bar - that was some strike!

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08:00 PM

87 mins: Luxembourg 0 England 7

Stanway whips a corner into the box but Daly's header goes wide of the target.

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07:59 PM

86 mins: Luxembourg 0 England 7

Scott dinks a clever through ball into the Luxembourg box but England is just beaten to the ball.

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07:56 PM

83 mins: Luxembourg 0 England 7

Mead lofts a ball into the box but England strayed offside.

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07:54 PM

81 mins: Luxembourg 0 England 7

Mead cuts in from the left and rolls a ball into the feet of Parris who is clattered from behind in the box... but no penalty comes! Harsh.

Scott is on, replacing Toone.

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07:51 PM

GOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAL! (Bright) Luxembourg 0 England 7

The free kick is dinked to the back post. Bright rises highest and directs the header into the far corner, just beating the diving keeper. Superb finish for Bright's first England goal.

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07:50 PM

77 mins: Luxembourg 0 England 6

Miller is booked for Luxembourg after a late challenge in her own half.

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07:47 PM

75 mins: Luxembourg 0 England 6

Mead wins the ball and drives into the box before being dispossessed. England attack once more via Daly but Luxembourg's defence holds strong for once.

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07:44 PM

72 mins: Luxembourg 0 England 6

Another change for England. Kirby off, Stanway on. Bright launches a rocket from long range but it goes just over the bar. Superb strike.

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07:42 PM

69 mins: Luxembourg 0 England 6

Luxembourgh have been better this half and manage to maintain possession for a little spell before England wins it back for her side.

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07:38 PM

66 mins: Luxembourg 0 England 6

England win a free kick in a threatening area. Kirby fires it in low but the ball is scrambled clear. Mead is booked for a robust challenge as the clearance was made.

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07:35 PM

GOOOOOOAAAAAAL! (OG Berscheid) Luxembourg 0 England 6

Toone rolls the ball to Mead who curls it towards the back post. Berscheid tries to stop the pass but puts it into her own net! That was not needed...

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07:31 PM

57 mins: Luxembourg 0 England 5

Marques breaks down the right for Luxembourg but she is forced to turn back as there is no support in the final third.

England make changes; England on for White, Mead on for Hemp and Wubben-Moy for the injured Greenwood.

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07:28 PM

55 mins: Luxembourg 0 England 5

England win another corner. The ball in is intercepted. A counter begins but does not get very far...

Greenwood, on her 50th cap tonight, has gone down. The defender has scored twice tonight.

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07:25 PM

52 mins: Luxembourg 0 England 5

It has been all England once again this half. Luxembourg doing their best but the gulf in quality is clear.

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07:22 PM

49 mins: Luxembourg 0 England 5

Parris wins a corner. Kirby takes it short but it is well read by Dos Santos. Luxembourg break but Daly sprints back to stop the attack. Great work-rate.

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07:20 PM

GOOOOOOAAAAAAL! Luxembourg 0 England 5

Greenwood unleashes a shot from long range. It takes wicked deflection, wrong footing the keeper. What a start to the half for England.

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07:17 PM

The players are back out onto the pitch

And England will want to get to double figures...

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07:04 PM

Here is Alex Greenwood's goal to mark her 50th cap

When you mark your 50th @Lionesses cap in style 😎

No stopping that from @AlexGreenwood! 💥

📲 👉 https://t.co/5OplJ76h4l
📺 👉 @ITV4 pic.twitter.com/FizOVlyK2Q

— ITV Football (@itvfootball) September 21, 2021

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07:02 PM

England, remarkaby, should be further in front

The Lionesses have had 18 shots compared to 0 by Luxembourg. Pure domination.

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07:01 PM

HALF-TIME: Luxembourg 0 England 4

Hemp breaks into the box but fires her shot just wide. She opted to go across goal and pulled it just a tad.

That's the half.

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07:00 PM

44 mins: Luxembourg 0 England 4

Hemp, who has been very lively, darts down the left but a slide tackle stops her dead. Good challenge.

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06:57 PM

41 mins: Luxembourg 0 England 4

Williamson drives forward, spraying a pass to Hemp on the left wing. Her cross is hoofed clear.

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06:55 PM

39 mins: Luxembourg 0 England 4

England take their ninth corner of the evening, although this one comes to nothing. The Lionesses have had 78 per cent possession so far - extreme domination.

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06:53 PM

GOOOOOAAAAAAL! (Greenwood) Luxembourg 0 England 4

A corner drops to Greenwood who volleys it home from the penalty spot on her 50th cap! England well deserve their lead...

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06:52 PM

35 mins: Luxembourg 0 England 3

England win a free kick in the Luxembourg half. Greenwood dinks it over the defence but Parris cannot quite catch up with it in time.

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06:49 PM

33 mins: Luxembourg 0 England 3

Kirby makes some room in the Luxembourg box. She shifts the ball from one foot to another but then scoops her shot just over the bar.

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06:45 PM

30 mins: Luxembourg 0 England 3

England continue to apply the pressure. A smart save forces a corner which is just about dealt with. England have had 17 attempts to Luxembourg's 0...

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06:45 PM

Analysis from women's football reporter Tom Garry:

England haven't won back-to-back matches since the 2019 World Cup. It's safe to say, they'll end that wait tonight. Ellen White could have had a hat-trick already. She's now only three goals behind Kelly Smith's all-time goals record for the Lionesses, and you wouldn't bet against her scoring again tonight.

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06:43 PM

GOOOOOOOAAAAAAL! (Parris) Luxembourg 0 England 3

Kirby takes another corner. It is headed to ground and Parris reacts quickest, hammering it home from close range.

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06:42 PM

26 mins: Luxembourg 0 England 2

England win a corner but it is headed clear. A second ball comes in via Daly but once again it is well defended.

Hemp breaks down the left wing, winning a corner for her side.

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06:39 PM

23 mins: Luxembourg 0 England 2

England should score again but they are denied once more. White puts in on a plate for Hemp but her shot is blocked.

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06:37 PM

21 mins: Luxembourg 0 England 2

England miss a clear chance! The ball is chipped into the six-yard box but Toone directs a header over the bar. England players were queuing up to put it home!

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06:36 PM

20 mins: Luxembourg 0 England 2

Parris cruises past a defender before sending a cross into the front post. Hemp latches onto it but can only send her effort wide.

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06:33 PM

GOOOOOOAAAAAAL! (White) Luxembourg 0 England 2

White peels away from her marker in the box, curling a shot into the bottom left corner first time. The striker is in fine form.

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06:32 PM

16 mins: Luxembourg 0 England 1

The home crowd is making a decent noise despite their side conceding early. England look threatening every attack, but just one goal to show for it thus far.

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06:30 PM

13 mins: Luxembourg 0 England 1

England come again after the opener, winning a corner. The ball is cleared but a long-range shot from Toone comes in, earning another corner.

Greenwood whips it in but Williamson heads it over the bar.

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06:28 PM

GOOOOOOAAAAAAAAL! (White) Luxembourg 0 England 1

Parris fires a shot from long range but it has nowhere near enough power to trouble the keeper. The Lionesses then flood forward, a cross comes into the box by Hemp and White nods it home. The timing on the run from the striker was superb!

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06:26 PM

10 mins: Luxembourg 0 England 0

Hemp sends a low cross into the box, White gets a shot away but the ball is just kept out by a reaction save from close range.

England attack again. Daly picks out Toone at the back post but her header back across goal comes to nothing.

It feels like a goal is coming...

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06:23 PM

7 mins: Luxembourg 0 England 0

Luxembourg are, understandably, sitting very deep, happy to let England control possession. The Lionesses move the ball from side to side before Toone whips in a cross that comes to nothing.

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06:20 PM

4 mins: Luxembourg 0 England 0

Hemp makes a run down the left wing and is hauled down. Free kick in a dangerous area for a cross.

Greenwood whips it in, Schlimé comes for it, punching it behind for a corner. The resulting corner comes into the front post but White cannot latch onto it.

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06:18 PM

2 mins: Luxembourg 0 England 0

England nearly take the lead early. A low cross is fired in by Parris but Toone's low shot is comfortably saved. Bright start for the visitors.

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06:16 PM

Here we go!

Luxembourg get us under way.

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06:11 PM

There are 1,200 fans in the stands as the players make their way out onto the pitch

England are expected to win - and win very well. The home side will have other ideas.

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06:08 PM

This is how things stand in Group D ahead of kick-off

On the hunt for 6 points from two games in #WCQ. 👊 pic.twitter.com/fySw2J1Ogn

— Lionesses (@Lionesses) September 21, 2021

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06:00 PM

Alex Greenwood wins her 50th England cap tonight

Joining the 5️⃣0️⃣ club! ✨

Congrats, @AlexGreenwood. pic.twitter.com/7lHNyevjnL

— Lionesses (@Lionesses) September 21, 2021

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05:55 PM

News update: English assistant referee Byrne stable in hospital

By Tom Garry

English assistant referee Helen Byrne is said to be in a stable condition in hospital, after requiring emergency medical treatment while officiating during Germany's Women's World Cup qualifier against Serbia this afternoon.

Byrne, from Merseyside, was part of an all-English team of officials for the match, which ended in a 5-1 Germany win. She appeared to collapse during the first half and received treatment by the side of the pitch, after a pause in play.

She joined Fifa's select group of assistant referees for international women's football in 2018, and has frequently officiated on professional men's matches too, including August's Carabao Cup tie between Leeds United and Crewe.

Byrne began refereeing in 2006 following a spell as a player coming through Everton's academy, as a young full-back. She was the fourth official for the 2018 Women's FA Cup final at Wembley, between Arsenal and Chelsea, and often represents English officials overseas at Women's Champions League matches.

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05:48 PM

Two changes made by England from win over North Macedonia

Rotation was expected but there are just a couple of changes made by Sarina Wiegman. Parris and Kirby are in for Mead and Stanway.

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05:46 PM

Team news...

🚨 TEAM NEWS 🚨

Your #Lionesses line up for this evening...😎 pic.twitter.com/MCEb9RJobG

— Lionesses (@Lionesses) September 21, 2021

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02:16 PM

Good evening, England manager Sarina Wiegman has reiterated stance against biennial World Cups

England manager Sarina Wiegman has reiterated her stance against holding World Cups every two years insisting "players are not robots" and need their welfare protecting.

The conversation about switching to biennial World Cups has rumbled on in recent weeks.

Wiegman was appointed as England boss last year but only took charge of her first game on Friday night as the Lionesses thrashed North Macedonia 8-0 in a World Cup qualifier at St Mary's.

England now face a trip to Luxembourg today for their next Group D match as Wiegman looks to guide her new side to the 2023 World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.

The format of the competition could soon change, however, as Fifa is holding a feasibility study into shortening the gap between men's and women's World Cups from four to two years.

Wiegman joined the England set-up following a successful stint as Holland boss which saw her land the 2017 Women's Euros and finish runners-up in the 2019 World Cup.

The 51-year-old said she was against any changes to biennial World Cups following her Wembley unveiling a fortnight ago and doubled down on her stance on the eve of the Luxembourg fixture.

"I wouldn't do it," she said. "I think it's not very good for the players, for their welfare. In Europe it's very well organised, we have very good competitions, we have the Euros, then you have the Olympics, then you have the World Cup, which are major tournaments for us.

"I think when you have all these tournaments every year where are the players going to get some rest? Where are they going to recover from a very intense football year every year? Players are not robots so I don't think it's a very good idea.

"I think the FA is in contact and yes I hope that all the stakeholders will be asked and that they will take some advice from them and I think coaches with international experience are also stakeholders and we should be part of that discussion too, and we know the players also. Players are stakeholders too."

Wiegman may shuffle her pack against Luxembourg to take a look at more of her squad, although Steph Houghton will not be involved after returning to Manchester City having been injured in training last week.

Houghton was due to retain the captaincy but, having missed out against North Macedonia, Arsenal's Leah Williamson skippered England for the first time and was praised for her leadership qualities.

Wiegman confirmed Williamson will wear the armband again on Tuesday, but that she is still yet to decide who will captain her team in the long-term.

"It was always the plan to have the same captain for both games after Steph dropped out. That was always the plan but it is not all set in stone," she added.

PA