:00:42. > :00:43.Good evening, it's been an important week on both
:00:44. > :00:58.We have got a fair bit to cover on the show.
:00:59. > :01:00.Coming up, we can't "Kirby" our enthusiasm for
:01:01. > :01:03.Have Scotland found the winning formula in their bid to
:01:04. > :01:07.There's the best of the action from the WSL title race...
:01:08. > :01:35.In the studio tonight we have England's most capped player ever,
:01:36. > :01:41.Fara Williams. We begin with Alex and Fran Kirby. We spoke to the
:01:42. > :01:49.small striker with a big future. St George's Park is alive with
:01:50. > :01:55.memories of legends of the game. What does the future? We might just
:01:56. > :02:06.be witnessing the emergence of one of the England stars of tomorrow.
:02:07. > :02:13.21-year-old Fran Kirby has already struck a chord with the new look
:02:14. > :02:16.England. She scored on her full England debut earlier in the month
:02:17. > :02:25.and was voted player of the match again Sweden. -- against.
:02:26. > :02:30.I was nervous but I have now been around the girls a few times and I'm
:02:31. > :02:38.showing off my fun side. I have been getting on really well.
:02:39. > :02:43.Fran has settled in fairly well and credit to her for that. She's very
:02:44. > :02:50.relaxed. And you scored on your debut against Sweden, the dream
:02:51. > :02:56.start. How did it feel? It was quite surreal. Even to be considered for
:02:57. > :02:59.the squad against Sweden, they are amongst the top five in the world.
:03:00. > :03:06.When I was told I was to be starting a it was amazing. We were confident
:03:07. > :03:10.Fran could handle it from a psychological point of view. For me
:03:11. > :03:15.it was pleasing to see the reaction of the rest of the group when she
:03:16. > :03:20.scored a goal. A player who could potentially be taking the spot from
:03:21. > :03:24.other people. But the rest of the group were delighted for a young
:03:25. > :03:31.player coming in and performing very well. Having spent all her career at
:03:32. > :03:35.local club ready Fran becomes the first player of the WSL Europe to
:03:36. > :03:42.represent her country in the second tier of the leak. We have been clear
:03:43. > :03:46.with our selection policies. If you are eligible to play for England and
:03:47. > :03:53.Europe on form, regardless of your age or experience, we will pick on
:03:54. > :03:57.form. Girls might think she is there so I can do that. It shows that they
:03:58. > :04:04.are willing to give people a chance if they are not in the top league
:04:05. > :04:06.but are playing well. There is a good element of competition in the
:04:07. > :04:11.training ground. Some experienced players looking over their shoulder
:04:12. > :04:16.and some young players confident of getting a jersey. What would it mean
:04:17. > :04:23.to you to be part of the team to take England to World Cup? It would
:04:24. > :04:28.mean everything. If enough I was not in the squad, just being in and
:04:29. > :04:35.around it would be incredible. I hope to get on the pitch and
:04:36. > :04:40.hopefully get a goal. We are confident with this group of players
:04:41. > :04:47.that we can aim at the world and we have to be sure we are focused on
:04:48. > :04:57.that. All the way through! England lead.
:04:58. > :05:09.England get a second. What a finish! And England have a third.
:05:10. > :05:12.Brilliant ball in. Clinical finish. England ripping Wales apart. They're
:05:13. > :05:17.through to Canada 25th team. Confirmation then of England's
:05:18. > :05:19.qualification as group winners. Victory over Montenegro in
:05:20. > :05:22.their final game would ensure the Wales have to win
:05:23. > :05:27.in the Ukraine to maintain their chances of reaching the play-offs,
:05:28. > :05:44.more on that later in the show. Not bad, girls! A bit of a pathetic
:05:45. > :05:49.iced bucket trickle over the manager! The manager has spoken
:05:50. > :05:56.about the unity in the camp. Does that come from him? I think it has
:05:57. > :06:05.always been there. It is a long time coming. And I think Mark did ring
:06:06. > :06:09.that back in. I think he has brought in that healthy competition. But
:06:10. > :06:15.when someone is on the pitch you want them to do well whereas
:06:16. > :06:18.previously it was not like that. But we now have that unity and you can
:06:19. > :06:24.feel that excitement around the camp. Striker Jody Taylor has been
:06:25. > :06:27.brought in and she said afterwards that it was a lot more positive and
:06:28. > :06:35.people were not afraid to make mistakes. What does she mean by
:06:36. > :06:43.that? Bringing in the type of player such as her, the likes of Fran Kirby
:06:44. > :06:49.coming through? He has said if you do something wrong, as long as you
:06:50. > :06:53.try it again he is not going to have a go at you. Those players coming in
:06:54. > :06:58.now, the group embraces them and we are allowed to smile and have a
:06:59. > :07:03.personality on the pitch. Whereas before we were just there to do
:07:04. > :07:08.business. But now we can express ourselves and have fun while still
:07:09. > :07:15.doing the job. Fran Kirby will be coming on on Thursday night. What do
:07:16. > :07:22.you make of her? Well but her performance against Sweden, it was
:07:23. > :07:29.excellent. For me she is exciting. We are looking forward to big thing
:07:30. > :07:33.in the future. Watching her she reminded me a little bit of Peter
:07:34. > :07:41.Beardsley in the way that she plays. And that is a compliment! Football
:07:42. > :07:47.is talking about her but when you meet her she's a person and still so
:07:48. > :07:54.humble and grounded. You see her flicking the ball against Arsenal,
:07:55. > :07:58.just so much confidence. To have the confidence to do that against a
:07:59. > :08:06.Japanese international it just shows the talent she has got. Going to the
:08:07. > :08:11.World Cup next year, you have beaten the big nations before in friendly
:08:12. > :08:16.matches. What does that now take to step up and beat the likes of France
:08:17. > :08:22.and Germany? At an international tournament? I think it is
:08:23. > :08:28.disbelieving and having the right mindset. We do have the talent, as
:08:29. > :08:38.has been proven in friendlies, to be the top nations. And how did you get
:08:39. > :08:41.that mindset? That is what Mark is instilling in us. We're going out
:08:42. > :08:47.with the attitude that we're going to win it. Just like the Sweden
:08:48. > :08:50.game, even before the game the girls had a really good feeling about the
:08:51. > :08:56.game. And that is quite a hit of positivity. We are going there
:08:57. > :09:07.against the top nations and going to beat them. How do you fancy playing
:09:08. > :09:11.against Germany at Wembley? ! That is on Sunday the 23rd of November.
:09:12. > :09:17.Details to be announced in the next few days. What are your thoughts
:09:18. > :09:22.ahead of that match? It is exciting. Mark has got as in a good place at
:09:23. > :09:28.the moment so it will be a good challenge to see where we are under
:09:29. > :09:36.him. How utterly we will get that win at Wembley. -- hopefully. Those
:09:37. > :09:42.details to be announced, we do need people to buy those tickets. When we
:09:43. > :09:47.were kids we used to play Wembley five. So to be walking out there in
:09:48. > :09:53.an England shirt, the crowd are amazing. Five out of six pitches in
:09:54. > :09:56.the World Cup are artificial. There was a lot of controversy about that
:09:57. > :10:03.partly because of the potential injury problems. By choice you want
:10:04. > :10:09.the World Cup to be on grass but it is a decision out of our hands. We
:10:10. > :10:17.cannot focus on that. I am happy to be playing the World Cup on
:10:18. > :10:21.artificial grass? Some of the under 20 players who have come back from
:10:22. > :10:26.Canada spoke positively about the pitch and how fast the ball moves on
:10:27. > :10:36.it. We play at weekly soap or as it is a bonus. -- we play on it weekly
:10:37. > :10:44.soap for us it is a bonus. Certainly the Liverpool players are happy.
:10:45. > :10:48.Well we begin our round-up with action at the foot of the table.
:10:49. > :10:58.Relegation beckons for one side for the first time. We went to assess
:10:59. > :11:07.the chances of postal Academy. -- Bristol. Last year's runners-up were
:11:08. > :11:11.still have struggled in defence. While Everton's problems are in
:11:12. > :11:18.front of goal, scoring just three. Relegation is on the horizon. Would
:11:19. > :11:29.it be the strikers or defenders to get the upper hand?
:11:30. > :11:47.Bristol just got a penalty. Some great play on the left-hand side.
:11:48. > :12:03.Everton need to stop giving the ball away cheaply.
:12:04. > :12:10.Everton need to stop giving the ball Everton get a goal back. Jones ahead
:12:11. > :12:32.of the far post. An absolutely stunning goal.
:12:33. > :12:49.Unbelievable! Sub Bristol go into the break 3-2 up. -- so.
:12:50. > :12:58.Bristol just penetrating the Everton defence twice in quick succession.
:12:59. > :13:06.Looks like Rachel Brown is injured. Not ideal to change keeper at this
:13:07. > :13:19.stage. It is not going to be great for the relationship between the
:13:20. > :13:23.centre halves and the keeper. Traded to a seven goal thriller with
:13:24. > :13:29.great strides from both teams. Bristol, on top but Everton have
:13:30. > :13:34.still to pick up their first win and the future may be looking bleak.
:13:35. > :13:34.still to pick up their first win and There's no doubting the time the
:13:35. > :13:37.weekend as the top two the There's no doubting the time the
:13:38. > :13:42.head-to-head. Chelsea standard level on points with Birmingham but having
:13:43. > :13:51.played two more games than their opponents, they could not afford to
:13:52. > :13:57.lose. The lead was extended with this score at the wrong end. Flat
:13:58. > :14:04.coated tried her best to claim it. The visitors fought back and reduced
:14:05. > :14:15.arrears midway through the half. -- Doherty. Emma Hayes the Mac side
:14:16. > :14:20.moved to the top of the table while Birmingham slipped down to third.
:14:21. > :14:26.Liverpool are to second after a narrow win over Nottingham.
:14:27. > :14:33.Substitute Katie scored a late winner to keep their hopes alive.
:14:34. > :14:40.County finished the game with ten players after Sophie Walton was sent
:14:41. > :14:46.off. Arsenal's improvement continued as they produced a clinical
:14:47. > :14:54.performance that Manchester City. It only took five minutes for the
:14:55. > :15:01.Gunners to open the scoring. After the game Man City boss
:15:02. > :15:14.expressed his disappointment. City fell further behind. And number
:15:15. > :15:19.three came soon afterwards. Casey Stoney rounded off the scoring with
:15:20. > :15:31.a fourth. Next up for the Gunners, a trip to Birmingham.
:15:32. > :15:38.Birmingham have two games in hand on both sides above them. Evidence any
:15:39. > :15:42.relegation spot, still without a win after eight games. -- evident in the
:15:43. > :15:48.relegation spot. What has gone on there? I'm not sure, it is sad to
:15:49. > :15:51.see them in that position, hopefully they can pick up a couple of wins
:15:52. > :15:57.and get in a good position, not see them at the bottom come the end of
:15:58. > :16:02.the season. By contrast, your side, Arsenal, have picked up, Kelly Smith
:16:03. > :16:06.in charge. Why is it going well for you? I don't know, I feel like we
:16:07. > :16:11.are going to win the league! Only messing! It has been a strange
:16:12. > :16:15.season for us, but we have got the momentum going, we are picking up
:16:16. > :16:19.points, there is a buzz around the changing room. Chelsea and
:16:20. > :16:23.Birmingham near the top of the table, looking very confident,
:16:24. > :16:26.Chelsea very impressive, Birmingham were not quite on their game. You
:16:27. > :16:33.have played them already, how would you assess them? The big losses Jade
:16:34. > :16:36.Moore, so crucial in midfield, winning them big battles first and
:16:37. > :16:41.second, that would have been a crucial loss, but we knew Chelsea
:16:42. > :16:46.would be there or thereabouts with the signings that they brought in in
:16:47. > :16:51.the close season. Liverpool, two point off the top, Birmingham have
:16:52. > :16:55.two games in hand, confident of retaining the title? I am confident
:16:56. > :16:59.we can win the remaining games to put ourselves in a good position,
:17:00. > :17:04.that is the target, four games remaining, hopefully we are looking
:17:05. > :17:12.at a top two spot. Sitting on the fence! Looking at it objectively,
:17:13. > :17:17.who will win? Do you know? Chelsea, I think the signings that they
:17:18. > :17:21.brought in, they are a strong unit, but there are lots and twists and
:17:22. > :17:25.turns that are going to unfold. People need to get down to their
:17:26. > :17:28.local club to support them, we need more people through the WSL
:17:29. > :17:32.turnstiles. The attendance figures are so much higher this season, 40%
:17:33. > :17:38.up on last season, but it wouldn't hurt to get more through the gate,
:17:39. > :17:42.would it? Definitely not, the game is going, and we could earn a little
:17:43. > :17:45.bit more with more supporters through the gate, and plenty of
:17:46. > :17:50.other clubs are probably thinking the same. Get on the FA WSL website
:17:51. > :17:55.for more information about clubs near you. Champions League
:17:56. > :18:03.football, the men have played in it, Friday's draw had Liverpool against
:18:04. > :18:08.Linkopings. Bristol Academy face Raheny United, Glasgow City take on
:18:09. > :18:11.Medik Konin. Glasgow going well in the Champions League, but what of
:18:12. > :18:18.the national side? We had to Portugal, Scotland travel there for
:18:19. > :18:21.a friendly before the World Cup qualifiers. With only the group
:18:22. > :18:29.winners qualifying automatically, it could be a complicated process.
:18:30. > :18:33.Scotland are yet to reach the final stages of a major competition, but
:18:34. > :18:37.with just two qualifies remaining, the 2015 World Cup is in their
:18:38. > :18:42.grasp, but the qualifying equation is far from simple.
:18:43. > :18:49.If we have to go there directly or through the play-offs, that is the
:18:50. > :18:54.goal. Wins for Scotland and Sweden against the Faroe Islands and Bosnia
:18:55. > :18:58.respectively, followed by a Scottish win over the Swedes, would see them
:18:59. > :19:03.level on points at the top of Group 4 with matching head to head
:19:04. > :19:07.records. Taking into account Sweden's 3-1 win over Scotland in
:19:08. > :19:11.June, the following criteria from the matches between the two sides
:19:12. > :19:16.would be applied to determine the rankings - goal difference, goals
:19:17. > :19:21.scored, and that is before the away goals of brought into the equation.
:19:22. > :19:27.To win the group and go straight to Canada, we need to beat them 3-1
:19:28. > :19:31.away, so that is a little bit tough to do against Sweden. It may be
:19:32. > :19:37.taxing, but hoping to make the numbers add up is chartered
:19:38. > :19:42.accountant and defender Rachel Corsie. The World Cup is the
:19:43. > :19:46.pinnacle for everyone in this team, and to be there would be an
:19:47. > :19:50.outstanding achievement, something that everyone would thoroughly look
:19:51. > :19:54.forward to. Maybe this is an opportunity that comes two years to
:19:55. > :20:00.early, because I do think, realistically, it is 2017, European
:20:01. > :20:04.Championships, that is really the target. However, we have played so
:20:05. > :20:10.well, and we have a chance. With this attitude and belief that we can
:20:11. > :20:17.be the ones to step up and make that first finals tournament, as the
:20:18. > :20:20.national team. We are here in Portugal to prepare for the Faroe
:20:21. > :20:26.Islands in September, we are here to do a job, so it is a calm, relaxed
:20:27. > :20:29.atmosphere, but we focused. Goal difference could be pivotal in the
:20:30. > :20:32.final table, and in Jane Ross Scotland have a player with ten
:20:33. > :20:39.goals in eight qualifying games yeah, I am pleased with my personal
:20:40. > :20:43.performances in the campaign, hopefully I can continue with that
:20:44. > :20:46.form. Scoring goals is the hardest thing in international football, and
:20:47. > :20:51.we have been able to do that consistently with Jane, and she has
:20:52. > :20:55.had a lot of experience, playing abroad, playing full-time against
:20:56. > :20:59.the best players. You have signed for Notts County, many of the other
:21:00. > :21:03.girls are playing professionally, what effect does that have? I think
:21:04. > :21:07.a positive impact, I feel a lot stronger, more prepared, more
:21:08. > :21:10.focused for the games you play in, and that is probably the same for
:21:11. > :21:25.the others that are playing professional. The goal! The number
:21:26. > :21:29.eight! If the players can play full-time, with good players in the
:21:30. > :21:33.club, in good leagues, that is of course good for us in Scotland. If
:21:34. > :21:37.we could get to the World Cup, I think it would be great for women's
:21:38. > :21:41.football in Scotland, there would be increased media attention, and I
:21:42. > :21:45.think in terms of younger generations up to role models, I
:21:46. > :21:48.think it would be great. Next up, the Faroe Islands, which on paper
:21:49. > :21:52.promises to be the victory that could set up a winner takes all
:21:53. > :21:56.match against the only side to have beaten them in qualification, the
:21:57. > :21:59.mighty Sweden. It is going to be extremely tough, they have the upper
:22:00. > :22:04.hand, better goal difference, and it is something that we will have to do
:22:05. > :22:11.exceptionally well in our final two games to get that automatic place.
:22:12. > :22:16.It really means that the winner is the one winning, it is the ambition,
:22:17. > :22:21.the willingness to train, it is the desire to win, and I think, in this
:22:22. > :22:27.team, we have some great winners, and that is what is required if we
:22:28. > :22:31.want to go to Canada. So to clarify a rather complicated
:22:32. > :22:35.situation, if Scotland and Sweden both win their next qualifiers,
:22:36. > :22:39.Scotland will need to be Sweden in their final match away, bettering
:22:40. > :22:46.the 3-1 scoreline to win the group. If not, there is the prospect of two
:22:47. > :22:49.rounds of play-offs to decide the final qualifier from the European
:22:50. > :22:53.nations. Only one of the four runners-up from the European groups
:22:54. > :22:56.will qualify. So it is quite difficult, that is what we are
:22:57. > :23:01.saying, but they can do it! No competitive action. And this week,
:23:02. > :23:05.they drew 1-1 in a friendly in Portugal, Rachel Corsie scoring the
:23:06. > :23:08.opening goal after the hour mark. Scotland had Jennifer Beattie said
:23:09. > :23:16.in a last-minute, conceding a penalty for a foul. Dolores Silva
:23:17. > :23:24.converted the resulting penalty to deny Scotland the win. What did you
:23:25. > :23:28.make of that? I am a defender, sticking up for the defenders! It
:23:29. > :23:32.would be very difficult for Scotland to qualify, but they will have to go
:23:33. > :23:37.to Sweden to win convincingly. You played them recently and beat Sweden
:23:38. > :23:42.4-0, anything you can offer in terms of hopeful Scotland? They have to
:23:43. > :23:48.leave it all out there, and they have got game changes their team,
:23:49. > :23:53.and if they get the ball early, they could create something, they might
:23:54. > :23:57.price them away from home. Kim Little is tearing it up in America,
:23:58. > :24:01.with Seattle, they won the regular season, she is the golden boot
:24:02. > :24:04.winner, she scored in the play-off semifinal, and they are through to
:24:05. > :24:08.the final. How much does she bring to Scotland now she is full-time
:24:09. > :24:13.professional? It is massive, she proved it in our league for so long,
:24:14. > :24:18.and for us to lose to the American league, it is good to see her doing
:24:19. > :24:22.so well, and Scotland will need her in that game against Sweden, a
:24:23. > :24:30.little bit different, a bit of pace. Would she get into a world XI?
:24:31. > :24:35.Definitely, I played with her at Arsenal, I saw what she could do day
:24:36. > :24:38.in, day out, and she needed a new challenge to test yourself against
:24:39. > :24:43.other players. She is showing everyone what you can do on a world
:24:44. > :24:47.stage. What about Shelley Kerr, the first senior men's manager in
:24:48. > :24:49.Scotland? Are you pleased for her? Yeah, I think you want to see people
:24:50. > :24:55.doing well in football, Yeah, I think you want to see people
:24:56. > :25:00.male, and we had her as a manager to see what she could do, and we wish
:25:01. > :25:04.you well at Arsenal, we hope she succeeds. You are a coach, Farah,
:25:05. > :25:09.are you inspired by seeing a woman in the men's game, all we just
:25:10. > :25:13.wanting to see more women in the women's game, there are not enough
:25:14. > :25:18.at the top level. It is a big step for women coaches, women in sport in
:25:19. > :25:24.general, a new challenge for, something that she will be excited
:25:25. > :25:27.by. Good luck to her in that role, a former Scotland international, no
:25:28. > :25:28.doubt a keen observer of both of those qualifiers, which you will be
:25:29. > :25:43.able to see life on BBC Alba. It was against reason that Fara
:25:44. > :25:52.Williams made history, becoming England's most capped player. --
:25:53. > :26:00.Sweden. Here is to 131 not out. Fara Williams in three words, honest...
:26:01. > :26:05.Chatty. Intelligent footballer. Talented, team player. Focused. She
:26:06. > :26:19.is a role model. Special. 12 or 13, very quiet, shy little
:26:20. > :26:22.girl, the talent was just outstanding, you could see
:26:23. > :26:25.straightaway she was going to be something special. A lively
:26:26. > :26:31.character, she does not shut up talking, to be honest, but she is
:26:32. > :26:35.great to have around, really experienced, especially at club
:26:36. > :26:40.level, to have someone with that knowledge of the game. Are passing
:26:41. > :26:43.ability, awareness, vision of the team and the opposition is
:26:44. > :26:50.fantastic. One of the best players I have worked with, male and female
:26:51. > :26:54.game. As a centre forward, she has had a lot of assistss for me,
:26:55. > :26:59.constantly wanting to improve, even though she is the most capped
:27:00. > :27:08.England player. She has spent nearly two years of her life on England's
:27:09. > :27:14.teams. She is determined to be the best place you can be, fantastic,
:27:15. > :27:22.she wants to keep improving. Amazing role model to so many kids.
:27:23. > :27:27.Lovely moments there, Fara, everyone says you do not stop talking, we are
:27:28. > :27:31.nearly out of time, but what is the highlight of your career so far? I
:27:32. > :27:37.think qualifying for the first World Cup in 2007, yeah, it was the first
:27:38. > :27:42.World Cup for us in a long time, so definitely that. You were saying
:27:43. > :27:48.earlier you scored a cracker! I enjoyed that one against Russia,
:27:49. > :27:53.nice one. That is about it from us this week, we will see how Fara gets
:27:54. > :27:57.on if she gets capped number 132 against Montenegro on Monday the
:27:58. > :28:04.22nd of September at seven o'clock on BBC Three. Thanks, Fara, Alex.
:28:05. > :28:07.Scotland and Wales remain in the hand to qualify for the World Cup,
:28:08. > :28:09.but England can sell a great safe as it is to Canada 2015.
:28:10. > :28:21.but England can sell a great safe as it is to Canada Bye for now. -- can
:28:22. > :28:24.celebrate safe passage to Canada 2015.