The Paris Saint-Germain shot-stopper made the shock announcement on Tuesday, less than six weeks before this summer's tournament in Switzerland
Mary Earps sent shockwaves across women's football on Tuesday when, less than six weeks out from the beginning of the Lionesses' European Championship title defence, she announced her immediate retirement from international football. Still only 32 years old, the goalkeeper has been key to England's incredible success under Sarina Wiegman, playing starring roles in the Euro 2022 triumph and run to the 2023 Women's World Cup final. This summer, though, the Lionesses will be without her.
It's not been easy for Earps as of late. Hannah Hampton's impressive development has led to the Chelsea star becoming a serious rival for the No.1 spot, so much so that Wiegman said she was "a little bit ahead" of Earps during England's latest camp, in April, in that bid to be the starting goalkeeper at the Euros. But even if Earps wasn't to start for the Lionesses, she would be fantastic support for a young team that, in Wiegman's latest squad, features nine players that have never been to a major tournament.
Earps might have started just one game for her country in 2025, but this news is a blow to England and their European title defence in so many ways – and leaves a bitter taste in the mouths of those who have seen her deliver so many incredible moments for the Lionesses.
GettyTop-quality goalkeeper
The most obvious reason why this hurts the Lionesses is Earps' talent. It's been a difficult first season for the 32-year-old at Paris Saint-Germain, with the French club enduring a truly awful campaign that ended without a trophy and without a manager. Amid that, Earps has come in for criticism at times. 'Could she have saved that?' 'Should she have done better there?' Those are questions that have been asked online on occasion, but it's generally been a solid campaign that hasn't featured any sort of significant drop-off in level.
She's reiterated that point when given the chance with England, too. As the Lionesses held the United States to a goalless draw at Wembley back in November, Earps was the star of the show, making a number of superb saves to preserve an impressive clean sheet. While Hampton was starting to creep up on her in the race to be No.1, that performance was a reminder of why Wiegman has trusted Earps throughout her tenure.
AdvertisementGettyPlenty of experience
That has led to her accruing major experience in moments of the highest pressure. Recalled by the Dutchwoman after finding herself in international wilderness under Phil Neville, Earps' quality shone as England won Euro 2022, so much so that she was named to the Team of the Tournament and won The Best FIFA Women's Goalkeeper award.
A year later, that quality took centre stage again in the Lionesses' historic run to the World Cup final. There, despite a 1-0 defeat to Spain, Earps made a huge penalty save to keep her team in the game and, while she couldn't collect a winners' medal at full-time, she did pick up the Golden Glove award. After that, more accolades followed, including the retainment of that FIFA award and the honour of being named BBC Sports Personality of the Year.
This is a goalkeeper who steps up in the big moments. Even if she wasn't going to be Wiegman's No.1 this summer, the experience she could have brought to the table would have been invaluable to the squad, and to a player in Hampton who, while talented and experienced in her own right, is set to be a starter at a major tournament for the first time.
GettyLack of back-ups
Plus, injuries and suspensions can happen, players can fall ill or can experience serious drop-offs in form. There is absolutely no guarantee that Hampton will be there, able to start, when England kick-off their Euros campaign on July 5 against France. And if she is, what's to stop something else happening after that whistle is blown? What if she has to bring down a player who is bearing down on goal and a red card is brandished? There is a reason why back-up goalkeepers exist and why it is extremely common to see them used almost every week in this unpredictable sport.
Earps' retirement means that there are few that will hope none of the above happens more than Wiegman, because the options that sit behind Hampton are by no means proven. Sure, Anna Moorhouse was superb for the Orlando Pride last season, helping the U.S. club win the NWSL Shield and Championship, and Khiara Keating is one of the most exciting shot-stoppers in the England set-up. But they don't even have a senior cap between them.
Indeed, after this news, there is an argument to be made that Hampton is now the Lionesses' most important player – and quite easily, too.
AFPTiming that has 'angered' Wiegman
That's got to frustrate Wiegman. "I had hoped that Mary would play an important role within the squad this summer, so of course I am disappointed," she said on Tuesday, before adding: "Mary has been clear on her reasons why she has made the decision and it is something we need to accept."
Further to that, reported that the England boss was "angered" by Earps' decision, which was told to her international team-mates in an "awkward meeting" on Monday. It was the timing in particular, the report said, that frustrated Wiegman, who has little opportunity to address that lack of experienced depth in the goalkeeper position at this point.
England will play three more games before the Euros – two crucial Nations League games against Portugal and Spain, which the Lionesses have to win to make the finals of the competition, and a pre-Euros friendly against Jamaica.
