Fran Kirby International withdrawing: the midfielder leaves England two days before the announcement of the Euro 2025 team | Football news
Fran Kirby announced his retirement from international football – only two days before the Euro 2025 Lionesses team was confirmed on Thursday.
The 31-year-old Brighton midfielder was omitted from the Sarina Wiegman match team for the 2-1 defeat on Tuesday in Spain, and told her teammates that she was retiring with an immediate effect after the match.
Wiegman told her that she was unlikely to make the Euro 2025 team unless one of his teammates was injured before the deadline on Thursday – which, according to Kirby, made her realize that she had “exceeded her welcome” on the international scene.
She ended her lioness career with 77 caps and 19 goals, having represented England during four major tournaments, including each match of the victorious Euro 2022 campaign.
Talk to EspnKirby said: “When I had the conversation with Sarina and she presented her plans for the euros and she told me that I was not going unless someone was injured, I knew it was the moment when I had exceeded my welcome.
“I don’t want to take the opportunity to someone who can learn [and which can] Then configure them for the future.
“I am not embarrassed at all. I gave everything at the beginning of the year, I gave everything my whole career and I agree with Sarina’s decision because at the end of the day – it was not enough. I agree with that because I know that I gave everything.”
More to follow …
