Mary Earps Criticizes Villainization Following International Retirement

England’s former goalkeeper, Mary Earps, believes she has been unfairly vilified after announcing her immediate retirement from the national team ahead of the Women’s Euros.

Earps, 32, ended her eight-year international career with 53 caps, despite being a key player under coach Sarina Wiegman since September 2021. She was instrumental in England’s victory at the 2022 Euros and their progression to the 2023 World Cup final.

Her decision to step down came just five weeks before the tournament, overshadowed by controversy, especially since she was replaced as the first-choice goalkeeper by Chelsea’s Hannah Hampton. The timing sparked backlash amid ongoing discussions about her departure.

In an interview on Fearne Cotton’s Happy Place podcast, Earps shared her feelings about the reaction, saying she felt “villainized” and found it difficult to witness the comments, which upset her and her loved ones.

She explained how the negativity affected her close friends and family, emphasizing her concern over their feelings and the impact of public opinion. Earps described her retirement as a “relief,” noting she had given her best physically and mentally, and felt ready to move on.

Her departure, along with other senior players Fran Kirby and Mille Bright, left the squad with limited experienced goalkeepers—Hampton, who has 16 caps, and inexperienced backups Anna Moorhouse and Khiara Keating.

Despite the controversy, Earps defended her decision, recognizing it as difficult but necessary. She expressed gratitude for her teammates’ support and indicated she might still attend England’s matches during the Euros, which begin this week in Switzerland.

England recently secured a 7-0 win over Jamaica in a warm-up friendly ahead of the tournament, set to face France in their opener on Friday, followed by fixtures against the Netherlands and Wales.

Mary Earps has claimed she was ‘villainised’ after her decision to retire.