"From White, To Kirby, Hemp. Back to Kirby. Blocked by Northern Ireland. Goal by Kirby! Goal near the top right corner, excellent goal by Fran Kirby. surely England will be on top with two-nil so far. The only team so far in the competition with a clean sheet" At the end of the match England won five-nil. After congratulating Northern Ireland on their first ever competitive tournament. They socialise with the fans, friends and their families. They make their way into the changing rooms all pumped with excitement. From chanting and cheering with the team. Her phone buzzed with a text from her girlfriend, Maren Mjelde. 'Well done, min kjærlighet stolt av deg' Fran smiled at the sweet words that were used. Fran video called her girlfriend; who picked up quickly. It's saddened her to see the Norwegian so upset, eyes red through all of her tears.
"Hey baby. I'm sorry about the loss" Fran said, Maren gave her a slight smile.
"They were the better team. But enough about me, I'm so proud of you baby. That was a great goal" Maren said making Fran blush. Millie Bright saw her and run up to Fran, smiling at the fellow defender.
"Maren what's up? Sorry about Austria mate" giving the Norwegian a sad smile.
"it's okay. We can regroup and learn tactically from all of this" she said reassuring her fellow defender. Fran smiled her. Continuing the conversation.
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Spain was a great opponent. It was 1-1 in the end. It was full on and went on for extra time before Georgia Stanway scored the winning goal, making it 2-1 to England. Fran was over the moon with the win against such a team like Spain who are built like a brick wall. They were in the semi-finals. After congratulating the Spanish on how well they did (some were not as cooperative) she saw her girlfriend in the crowd. Smiling down at the small forward. Fran went to her and kissed her. Maren smiled at the sweaty woman.
"Semi-finalist! Proud of you Kjæreste. I'm so happy for you" Fran kissed her cheek.
"Maren, don't keep her for yourself!" Fran looked to her left and saw Guro Reiten standing with her former Chelsea teammate Maria Thorisdottir. She hugged the Norwegians. "Dude, that was great. Well done" Guro said. Fran smiled.
"Yeah, that was a great game. I'm just so happy we got through" she replied. Maren held her hand and squeezed it. She was proud of her girlfriend and will support her all the way.
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The game against Sweden was something different. Fran was full of confidence when she made her way onto the pitch with the team. Staring into the crowd to see her family and friends as well as her teammates family and friends. Who she focuses on was Maren who gave her a blinding smile and a thumbs up. Fran smiled at her and got ready for the game. She was so proud of herself for getting this far. Within the 34th minute Beth Mead scored an amazing goal. By half time is over the team have gained more confidence, Lucy Bronze scored a cracking header. Then a cheeky snub of a goal from fresh legs Alessia Russo; nutmegging the goalkeeper who wasn't expecting it. Fran made her way across the Swedish half with two defenders' chasing her. She kicked it just outside the box and there it was, her goal that Lindahl just tipped her fingers on. Teammates congratulating her as she looked around in disbelief as the goal went in. She slid on her knees, looking at Maren with a mega watt smile. Not long after the goal she was taken off with a roar of cheers. Ella Toone to replace her.
She waited for the time to run out. They had done it; England are in the finals of the 2022 Euro's. Fran was extremely pleased with herself and the team that she didn't know what to do. Hugs and crying were seen all over the pitch. She hugged a few of her England teammates until she saw Magdalena Eriksson crying not too far away. She walked up and offered a hug which the Swede didn't object. She pulled the tall defender into her and soothes her with words.
"Hey, you played a great tournament. Proud of you Magda" she said wiping the Chelsea captain's tears away with her thumb. Magda laughed and cried harder.
"The better team won today. That was a pretty nice goal from that distance. Go and win it all Fran. I believe in you" she hugged the Swede tighter. Zećira Mušović wrapped her arms around both of them.
"Go and show them what you're made of in the final. You've got this" she said to her fellow Chelsea player. Fran smiled at them "I think you got someone waiting for you" Zećira said pointing in the crowd to their fellow Chelsea players, Maren, Pernille and Guro. She smiled. She went over to celebrate with her England teammates with pure joy on her face. Congratulations from a few of the Swedish players and a few kind words of her own before she made her way to her girlfriend, Magdalena following her. Fran got to the Scandinavians and kissed her girlfriend. She wrapped her arms around the defender and relaxed into the touch before pulling away. She looked over to see Magda crying while Pernille held her tightly speaking softly in Danish. Maren smiled and kissed her again.
"That was a great game. Incredible baby. I can't believe I'm here with the potential euro 2022 winner' she said, Fran laughed at her girlfriend. She picked her up and span her around.
"Me either love. I'm so happy with the team and myself for being able to do this. What I'm also grateful for is to see you at every match that I'm playing. You make me happy and I'm glad I have you" Fran said. Maren smiled.
"Awww Fran, how sweet" Pernille said, teasingly. Fran turned to her before giving her a hug.
"Ew Fran, you're all sweaty!" Pernille exclaimed. Fran smirked before rubbing her cheek on the Danish. The blonde grimaces before wiping her cheek. "Seriously Fran. Gross" the two other Scandinavians laugh at her antics.
"Magda is all sweaty but you want to hug her" Fran said.
"Well, it's a thing called love Kirby and I would do anything for her; even if she is sweaty" Pernille responded, sounding all love sick. Hugging Magda tighter to show the short midfielder that she was telling the truth. Fran playfully stuck her tongue out and laughed with them.
"Well, in that case I'm going to hug Fran because I love her even if she is also sweaty" Maren said, hugging the shorter woman.
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Here is it. The day Fran has been waiting for a very long time. The final of the Euros against Germany. This was it. Whether the outcome Fran has something even bigger planned and that was what she was most worried about. What she had planned for months and its finally time to do it. All of her family were here. This is for her, this is for the team, this is for her mother who she sadly lost years ago. This is for England. 'For you mom' before kissing her balled fist and putting it to her chest. For the last time of the Euros, she walked out of the tunnel to see a sold-out Wembley stadium.
This is it, the end of where she wants to be. Loud cheering from all around her. A lot of England and Germany shirts all around her with dominant white and coral of England. Once again finding her girlfriend and a lot of her teammates and former teammates from Chelsea (and all over the WSL) cheering them on. This is where they made history and Fran isn't going to give up easily. But all she could hear was the thumping of her heart and the blood rushing through her veins. All of the weight of Women's football in England is on their shoulders. As the national anthems played and the crowd cheers. The whistle goes off and they are on their way.
It was a physical first half but by half time neither side had scored. It was quite the match they had first half. Fran was taken off in the 56th minute, being replaced by Ella Toone. It was the 62ndminute and Ella Toone chips the keeper, yesssss! England 1 Germany nil. But it wasn't long till Germany equalise it the 79th minute by Lina Magull. England has a corner in the 109th minute. Taken by Lauren Hemp. It's fumbled around the box before it was laid before Chloe Kelly who shoots and she scored! 2-0 to England. Fran was on the side-line, waiting for the whistle. It felt like hours for it to go but there it was. England won the 2022 Women's Euro's. Fran raced to her teammates and celebrated with them. They had done it they were champions on Europe. Tears stream down her face and she congratulates the Germans. Beth Mead was awarded the player of the tournament and golden boot winner. here was the medal celebration and finally the presentation of the cup. As Leah Williamson lifted it into the air and the crowd roared in cheers. She had done it. Finally she had done it. She hoped her mom was proudly looking down at her. After a while she was ready. Breathing heavily before walking over to her girlfriend in the stands. Maren pulled her in for a long kiss and a strong hug. The pulled back to see the Norwegians mega watt smile.
"I knew you could do it. That was amazing" she said before kissing her again. Fran pulled away before grabbing Maren's hand.
"Come with me please babe" she said before they walked off towards the bottom.
"What are we doing?" Maren asked. Fran directed her to the pitch.
"When I met you I was shy and reserved. You came into my life and it felt right. I really love you Maren. You brought me out of my shell and made me strong. I love everything about you and I want to spend the rest of my life with you" she looked to the side and nods her head. Bethany England brought out a box. Maren gasped and covered her mouth.
"I love you Maren. You taught me so many things. You taught me how to love myself again since you know my mom and all. I'm grateful to have you in my life" she got down on one knee, people all around her watching them but she us solely focused on the Norwegian.
"So Maren Nævdal Mjelde, will you marry me?" She asked. It was deadly silent. Maren nods.
"Yes, i will marry you" cheers from the team and all around the stadium as they share a sweet intimate kiss. This is what winning feels like and Fran is on cloud nine. She slid the ring on the defenders hand and smiled, it was sheer beauty.
What did Fran do today? Well, she won the Euro's and is getting married. What a great end to a fantastic competition. As she looked to the Scandinavians eyes, full of love. Beth England jumped on her back in celebration. Twas the end to a great day