The future’s bright but the present’s orange
ENGLAND striker Fran Kirby was “bitterly disappointed” after suffering a 3-0 Euro 2017 semi-final defeat to hosts Holland in Enschede – but World Cup glory is already in the Lionesses’ sights.
Hopes of winning the tournament were shattered by goals either side of half-time from Arsenal pair Vivianne Miedema and Danielle van de Donk, with a last-gasp own goal from Millie Bright compounding England’s misery.
Chelsea player Kirby said: “They had a game plan and did it well and took their chances, credit to them.
“We had chances and could have had a few penalties. We are bitterly disappointed.
“We did great to get this far.
“We have put so much hard work in but fell short.
“In the team huddle we said, ‘let’s go and win the World Cup in France.”
With five goals across England’s run to the last four, Jodie Taylor is still the competition’s top scorer.
She said: “It just was not our night. I don’t think things went our way.
“They are a good team. It is disappointing but things did not all our way.
“It was not meant to be. I think there were a couple of efforts which might have been penalties.
“A couple of calls did not go out way but credit to Holland. I am proud of every one of us tonight. We gave it everything.”
The Lionesses had chances to get on the scoresheet and saw Jade Moore’s header deflected on to the post by Sherida Spitse, while Taylor passed up two golden opportunities.
England head coach Mark Sampson said: “I am incredibly proud of the team. I thought they left everything out on the pitch.
“It is just that sometimes in football you don’t get the rub of the green and that is what happened in this game tonight.
“The high-end performance was there, the attitude was there and we have a group of devastated women in the changing rooms.”