Ladies goalkeeper Mary Earps from England withdraws with immediate entrance from international football, she said on Tuesday in a shock decision barely a month before the start of the European Championship.
EARPs mentioned time on an eight -year career with 53 performances for England and countless individual distinctions, including two FIFA Best Awards and a World Cup Golden Glove and winning the BBC's Sports Personality of the Year in 2023.
The Paris Saint-Germain keeper was an important player in both the European Championship victory of England and their second place in Spain on the World Cup world of 2023 with a shootout victory on Nigeria to secure their quarterfinals.
She was mentioned in the Sarina Wiegman team for Nations League matches against Portugal on Friday and Spain.
“I spent a long time making this decision and it is not one that I made light,” Earps said in a statement. “Ultimately, this is the right time for me to step aside and give the younger generation the chance to thrive. Winning the euros in 2022 was the best day of my life, and I root for the girls to do it again this summer.”
EARPs recently lost her starting spot to Chelsea keeper Hannah Hampton, who made her first start for England in more than two years in April 2024 in a 2-0 win over Ireland.
“It has been the greatest honor and privilege of my life to wear this insignia, represent my country and play in addition to such an incredible group of players,” Earps said.
Wiegman called the decision of Earp's disappointing and said she had hoped that the 32-year-old would play an important role for her team this summer.
“Mary has been clear about her reasons why she made the decision and it is something we have to accept,” said Wiegman. “Mary has made a huge contribution to not only the team, but also the whole English football.
“We will cherish those memories and of course give Mary the tribute she earns after the summer, but for now the focus must be on the upcoming UEFA Women's Nations League luminaires and the euro.”
Goalists Khiara Keating and Anna Moorhouse are in Wiegman's 26 players team for their match against Portugal in Wembley Stadium and Spain in Barcelona. Victories in both would protect England a berth in the knockout phase of the Nations League.