England keeper Earps to retire from international football
WSL Full-Time were informed of the news via an official press release from The Football Association this morning.
Advertisement
The 32-year-old has enjoyed a hugely successful international career which has seen her collect 53 senior caps. Earps was a UEFA Women's EURO winner with England in 2022 while she also won the Women's Finalissima, two Arnold Clark Cups and the SheBelieves Cup with the Lionesses. Earps was a FIFA Women's World Cup runner-up with England in 2023 and won the Golden Glove at that tournament.
Despite being an important player for England, Earps has deemed it to be the right time to hang up her boots on the international stage.
Announcing her international retirement, Earps said 'I have taken the difficult decision to retire internationally. It has been the greatest honour and privilege of my life, to wear this badge, represent my country and play alongside such an incredible group of players.
'I've spent a long time making this decision and it's not one I've made lightly. For me, ultimately this is the right time for me to step aside and give the younger generation an opportunity to thrive. Winning the Euros in 2022 was the best day of my life, and I'm rooting for the girls to do it again this summer.'
England head coach Sarina Wiegman will not call-up an additional goalkeeper for the upcoming UEFA Women's Nations League fixtures against Portugal and Spain.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
14 hours ago
- Yahoo
'Disciplined' regime helped my studies while playing for England, says Michelle Agyemang
Footballer Michelle Agyemang has told Sky News she followed a "disciplined" regime to cope with her studies while training for England ahead of her pivotal role in the Euros. The 19-year-old scored two decisive goals - including one in the semi-final against Italy when England were on the brink of defeat - to help the Lionesses to victory at the Women's Euros in Switzerland. England retained their title after beating Spain on penalties in a dramatic final. The Arsenal striker said she is at university studying for a degree - and still found time to fit in the work alongside England's preparations for the Euros. "It's a lot of work, but you have to be disciplined in the same way you have to be in football," she said. "After training, go home, listen to the lecture, do some work, sometimes go in. "I just finished my A-levels before uni, so I'm kind of into the habit of studying." Agyemang also spoke about her piano playing - and how she arranged to have the instrument with her at the Euros. "The piano - it's always great to do something to enjoy myself," she said. "The funny thing is I actually started off playing the guitar, but being in the church - that's where I was playing - so learning the piano and stuff like that. "I thought 'why not take it with me?' - and it was nice that it could be driven in a van. "It was good to have that in my room right next to my bed every day." Read more: A week after England lifted the trophy, Agyemang said she was back with her church community and told of the warm reception she received. She said: "It was amazing. It was a packed service, so it was nice to see everyone and people I haven't really spoken to before coming up to me to say 'well done, we're so proud of you, we were praying for you'. "That kind of warms your heart to know that there were people that you don't even know supporting you and looking out for you. "It's beautiful and I'm so happy to have that around."
Yahoo
20 hours ago
- Yahoo
We should all learn a lesson from our sportspeople
If last weekend's hectic and exhilarating sports calendar taught us anything, it is that true excellence is not only built on the training ground but in the mind too. The phenomenal achievement of the Lionesses bringing the Euro championship back home might easily be condensed down to a well taken header and a perfectly executed penalty. But none of that would have been possible were it not for the mindset the squad – playing and non-playing – applied before and throughout the tournament. As well as losing their opening fixture to France, England fell behind in each of their knockout games. They trailed until the 81st minute of their quarter final, the 96th of their semi-final and close to the hour mark of the final yet went on to win each. Further, they led for just a total of four minutes and 52 seconds in the knockout games. That's the lowest a title-winning side has led in the knockout rounds of either the Women's Euros or World Cup. One of the team, Lucy Bronze, even played the whole tournament with a broken leg. Back to Saturday, the British and Irish Lions, having trailed so badly to Australia in the first half, scored an incredible match-winning try in the final minute to not only win the match but to achieve an unassailable 2-0 series lead. On the same day football came back home, 18-year-old darts phenomenon Luke Littler became the youngest player to win the Phil Taylor World Matchplay title with a 18-13 leg victory over fellow Brit, James Wade. Littler trailed by five legs in three of his five matches, fighting back in the second round and semi-finals – in which he achieved the holy grail of a nine-dart finish – before having to repeat the feat against Wade. Also on Sunday, and arguably less dramatically, the Indian cricket team pulled a fourth test draw from the jaws of defeat. Facing a huge task of overturning England's massive first innings total of 669 then losing two wickets in the first over of their second innings, India dug in to play out the next day and a half to deny the hosts what would surely have become a nailed on series-clinching win. Wherever your sporting interests and allegiances lie, over one breathtaking weekend, we should all be mesmerised by the bewildering grit, attitude and mindset that brought these unlikely results about. In each case, mere mortals might have assessed the size of the mountain and wilted against its might. The occasion, the quality of the opposition and the gulf between the respective opening performances might have been simply too colossal to overcome and, despite their training, preparation and proven talents, they may have withered to a graceful defeat. These sports men and women are different to most of us though, and that is central to what they achieved. According to Dr Martin Turner of the Smarter Thinking Project, sport being a dynamic and unpredictable environment means one minute you are on top, the next you are second best. So the idea of controlling the controllables seems vital for performance. You hear it all the time. Players and coaches telling the media after a win, or defeat, that they just focused on what they could influence, the underlying message being that emotional reflection, predictions and reacting to outside "noise" is a waste of effort. Even faced with an impending defeat, elite sportspeople do not rue the missed pass, shot or dart, nor think that, "in X years this team have never recovered from such a scoreline". Instead, they go back to their training, their processes and what they know best and apply those time and time again until it works. Let's not think this is a psychology to admire from the sidelines; it's a life lesson. How much time do we spend wringing our hands, wishing things could be different, perhaps even thinking ourselves into a mental health abyss of what might have been? Surely the only way to make amends is to follow the example of those who excelled last weekend; forget what's passed, re-focus then plough on. It might not always work, but wishing for better past outcomes certainly won't so it must be worth a try. Now I'm off to practice what I preach! Former Brighton and Hove police chief Graham Bartlett's Brighton-based Jo Howe crime novel series continues with City on Fire which is now available in paperback.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
The last five meetings between England and Spain
Here we go again. For the second time in two years, The Lionesses will face Spain in the final of a major tournament. With Spain taking victory in the final of the 2023 World Cup, Sunday's rematch at St. Jakob-Park will be a case of either repeat or revenge in a rivalry that is rapidly becoming a modern classic in the international game. While an imperious Spanish side will head into this final as favourites, England have made a habit of hanging on even when the situation has looked dire: just think back to the turnarounds against Sweden and Italy. So, with it so unclear based on these Euros as to who will lift the trophy, perhaps history can shine more light on a game with two sides separated by very little on paper. Some of that history is very recent, too; their final will be their third clash already this year. Here are the last five meetings between England and Spain. 03/06/2025: Spain 2-1 England Competition: UEFA Women's Nations League Goal-scorer(s): Clàudia Pina (60', 70'); Alessia Russo (21') Stadium: RCDE Stadium Possession: ESP: 63%; ENG: 37% Shots (on target): ESP: 19 (5); ENG: 4 (2) Fouls (bookings): ESP: 4 (1); ENG: 9 (2) In their most recent game, Spain were the side who came back from behind to – in the end – comfortably beat England in their final group stage match of the Women's Nations League. Alessia Russo had given England the lead with their first shot on target. It took the introduction of Clàudia Pina in the second half to turn the tide for Spain, as she netted the equaliser on the hour-mark before doubling up to win the game 10 minutes later. Despite having taken the lead, The Lionesses were really unable to threaten for the majority of the game, and by full-time, Spain were more than good value for their three points. The result meant Spain topped Group A3 with 15 points, while England secured second place with 10. 26/02/2025: England 1-0 Spain Competition: UEFA Women's Nations League Goal-scorer(s): Jess Park (33') Stadium: Wembley Stadium Possession: ENG: 41%; ESP: 59% Shots (on target): ENG: 9 (6); ESP: 20 (6) Fouls (bookings): ENG: 8 (1); ESP 13 (1) It was a different story when the two met at Wembley. This time, England defended resolutely to hold out a Spanish side intent on taking the lead, although they'd have to rely heavily on both Hannah Hampton and the woodwork. Still, their resoluteness paid dividends when Jess Park tapped home a shot from Russo which had been tapped into her path by Cata Coll. Spain were unable to turn the tie in their favour, and England held on for three points in their first match against these opponents since losing the World Cup final. It was also La Roja's only defeat in the Nations League group stage. 20/08/2023: Spain 1-0 England Competition: FIFA Women's World Cup Goal-scorer(s): Olga Carmona (29') Stadium: ANZ Stadium Possession: ESP: 57%; ENG: 43% Shots (on target): ESP: 13 (5); 8 (3) Fouls (bookings): ESP: 9 (1); 16 (1) Then there's the big one. England had surpassed the expectations of many to reach the final of the 2023 World Cup, while Spain had left it late to beat The Netherlands and Sweden in the knockout stages. They wouldn't leave it late this time, though. An unlikely hero in the form of left back Olga Carmona swept home an excellent finish to give Spain the lead, and they might've doubled that lead had Mary Earps not denied Jenni Hermoso from the spot. It was a monumental achievement for Spain, this their maiden World Cup triumph, but the feel-good factor was marred when, in the trophy celebrations, president of the Spanish Football Federation Luis Rubiales kissed Hermoso. This would ultimately result in his resignation. 2025's final may be a chance to finally escape the scandal which overshadowed the biggest moment in the history of Spain's women's side, as they search for a victory which is all about the football. 20/07/2022: England 2-1 Spain Competition: UEFA Women's Euro Goal-scorer(s): Ella Toone (84'), Georgia Stanway (96'); Esther González (54') Stadium: Amex Stadium Possession: ENG: 44%; ESP: 56% Shots (on target: ENG: 9 (3); ESP: 17 (4) Fouls (bookings): ENG: 17 (1); ESP: 18 (2) In a game which mirrored much of England's Euro 2025 campaign, their quarter-final three years ago was decided very late indeed. As was the case against Sweden and Italy this time around, England went behind to Spain. It was Esther González to give them the lead, firing a shot past Earps following a cut-back from Athenea del Castillo. But England never said die. Ella Toone nodded home the equaliser six minutes before full-time, and in extra-time, Georgia Stanway took matters into her own hands, gliding past much of the Spanish side herself before smashing a strike home from outside the area. The Lionesses had done it the hard way, but it was enough to secure progression to the semi-finals of Euro 2022. The rest is history. 20/02/2022: England 0-0 Spain Competition: Arnold Clark Cup Goal-scorer(s): N/A Stadium: Carrow Road Possession: ENG: 34%; ESP 66% Shots (on target): ENG: 5 (1); ESP 11 (4) Fouls (bookings): ENG: 7 (2); ESP 14 (1) At this point, England were still unbeaten under Sarina Wiegman, and this game extended that record. That said, it was largely at the expense of entertainment for the neutral. Spain controlled possession (as per), but neither side could fashion many clear-cut chances. Perhaps the best came right at the end, with Ellen White heading just wide for England. In the end, the two sides could only muster five shots on target between them. Still, England would go on to win the Arnold Clark Cup regardless. Overall So, in their last five meetings, there's nothing to split the two behemoths: both England and Spain have won twice, with one draw to split them. In total, the two sides have played each other 14 times. England have won seven of those, Spain have four victories and there are three total draws. Historically speaking, that gives The Lionesses a slight edge. But, in recent years, there's nothing to split them, and in their most recent final, it was all about La Roja. In short, you can expect Spain to dominate possession. Besides that, Sunday's final at St. Jakob-Park is anyone's game.
