Chelsea players look ahead to the Women’s Euros semifinals
One of the most exhilarating, drama-filled European Championships of recent years is coming to a close, and the Chelsea Women are well represented with just four teams left. From Fran Kirby in the middle of the pitch for England to Eve Perisset on the left flank for the French, the Blues have found a boatload of success up to this point in the Euros. Magdalena Eriksson and Sweden are scheduled to face off against the English for the right to head to the competition’s final on Tuesday, while on the other side of the bracket, Perisset and the French take on a quality German side that is still the only team in the tournament not give up a goal on Wednesday night.
With the players finally reporting to Cobham for preseason, it is the final time fans will get the chance to see these players before they return to Chelsea to prepare for the highly anticipated preseason tournament in the United States. The Blues will await some of their most important players, such as starting goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger. While she may not start for the Germans, Berger plays a critical role in the Blues’ success. Looking ahead at the next season in the WSL may not be on the minds of the individuals still competing, but it is another chance to demonstrate the true danger this Chelsea team possesses in the 2022/23 season on a larger stage.
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Chelsea Women’s stars look ahead to the European Championship semifinals
The first contest features six individuals that will don the Chelsea kit this upcoming season. Emma Hayes’ regular centerback duo of Eriksson and Millie Bright will battle against each other on the international stage. It is the first meeting between these two sides since the third place match in the 2019 FIFA World Cup where Kirby scored a brilliant left-footed strike in a losing effort. The reinvigorated Kirby still controls the middle of the park for an English side that escaped by the skin of its teeth against Spain in the knockout round.
Bright was arguably the best player for the Lionesses against the Spanish, winning nearly every header that came her way and clearing a ball off the line that saved England from elimination. She will even be playing at Bramall Lane, which is just about 11 miles away from where she grew up in Chesterfield. Kirby is currently tied for second in the competition in assists with three while on the other side, Eriksson has started every match for Janne Andersson on the left side of the Swedish back four. It is a look into how Kirby can perform against another top side, and the No. 2 team in the world, after struggling with fitness for most of the season.
As Hayes continues to watch Kirby at the international level, it is difficult to see her play the English international in any place but the starting line-up on opening day against West Ham in September. Despite Chelsea fans not getting a chance to see Bethany England or Jess Carter much, this match will provide a whole lot of insight into Kirby’s effectiveness and the depth of the Blues’ defense next season.
In the other match, despite Chelsea having just two players competing, only one will most likely see the field. Perisset has arguably been one of the tournament’s most impressive players so far. From sealing the French win against the Dutch with a game-winning penalty to creating plenty of danger from the left wingback position, Perisset adds a completely new dimension that the Blues are going to use in order to find success. With her speed, awareness and adaptability that she has shown on the ball for France, Perisset is not only a player fans should keep an eye on, but someone the entire world will be focused in on when the opening whistle blows. She has played every meaningful minute for the French in this competition and will be facing a side that the French have lost to three out of the last five times, including a World Cup quarterfinal in 2015.
The stakes are high heading into the semifinals as these matches should only create hype for Chelsea fans seeing a majority of their team’s players succeed at the international level. With the players finally reporting alongside Hayes for camp, the excitement for the upcoming season has been ramped up a notch in the last few weeks.
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From Bright putting her body on the line for her country to Perisset dazzling the world with her darting runs, the semifinals of the Women’s European Championship is just a glimpse into a season that could see the Blues playing in the Champions League in May of 2023.