The 21-year-old, who became Reading's first professional female player earlier this month, began amongst the substitute's bench and could only watch on as Germany raced into a two-goal lead. 

Alex Scott headed through her own net on six minutes and visiting captain Celia Sasic then ran half the length of the pitch ti slot home a second. 

The Three Lions had rattled the crossbar after just nine seconds when Jordan Nobbs let fly from range but it was 3-0 before the break as Sasic nodded home her second just before the half-time whistle.

Kirby's moment arrived on 62 minutes when she replaced Eni Aluko and the Caversham resident injected some pace into Mark Sampson's side. 

A couple of tricky dribbles forward kept the German defence on their toes. She almost created herself a sight of goal 10 minutes from time, having wriggled beyond two challenges, but was eventually dispossessed on the edge of the box.