With Mary Earps announcing her international retirement, there is even more of a gap left behind in England’s women’s national team. The acclaimed shotstopper, formerly of Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), has retired from the Lionesses. She leaves behind a legacy of 13 appearances for her country and is considered by many to be a national treasure.
Earps’ decision follows being passed over as England’s first-choice goalkeeper during the past few Nations League fixtures. Instead, head coach Sarina Wiegman opted for Hannah Hampton in crucial games, raising questions about the future of England’s goalkeeping lineup. This shift in preference suggests that Wiegman is favoring both Hampton and Khiara Keating as her primary options moving forward.
Things escalated during her team’s shocking semi-final stunner over the USA. Earps sat on the bench as Carly Telford took the field to start in goal. This decision raised eyebrows because it showcased Earps’ purpose within the team slowly fading away. It must have contributed to her disappointing decision to retire from international duty. Wiegman expressed disappointment over Earps’ retirement, recognizing the impact it has on the team’s dynamics.
In the other semi-final, as England head to these home Euros with their goalkeeping conundrum because the absence of Earps creates a key choice. Wiegman will now have to lean on both Hampton and Keating to help pick up the slack. Her experience and skills are not fungible. As such, Keating is viewed as a high-end back-up plan. He will have to do a lot to make sure that he leads England to their success in the tournament.
Additionally, the matter is clouded by the injury of Ellie Roebuck, who is recovering from a stroke. If Roebuck is able to return full strength, she might find herself back in the mix for a competitive goalkeeping pool. For the time being, England’s attention will turn to honing their tactics in and around Hampton and Keating.
Earps’ journey with the national team has been marked by memorable moments, including her presence during the 2019 World Cup quarter-final against Norway when she stepped up after Karen Bardsley’s injury. All in all her contributions to the Lionesses have been tremendous. With her retirement, a tremendous void will be left that will be felt by all, on and off the pitch.
Leave a Reply