England skipper Leah Williamson has expressed her assist for Mary Earps following the goalkeeper’s retirement from worldwide soccer.
Earps, who lately joined Paris Saint-Germain, confirmed she would not play for England on Tuesday, simply over a month earlier than Euro 2025 begins.
The announcement’s timing drew some criticism, however when requested if she considered Earps’ resolution as egocentric, Williamson defended her good friend’s selection.
“I believe to reach at that call should be one of many hardest issues in your profession,” Williamson mentioned.
“She is a human first and I hope Mary is OK and it’s the most effective resolution for her. We’ll miss her.”
Williamson, contemporary from lifting the Girls’s Champions League trophy with Arsenal final Saturday, additionally shared how shut she is to Earps on and off the pitch.
“I spoke to Mary, she’s considered one of my closest associates in soccer – so I’m devastated, simply because I really like her, I really like being her team-mate,” she added.
“I believe the best way that she wears the England shirt is an instance to us all so I’m very unhappy that these reminiscences usually are not going to proceed in an England shirt.
England head coach Sarina Wiegman “wished Mary Earps in her crew” this summer season, after the goalkeeper introduced her worldwide retirement earlier this week. pic.twitter.com/C2Rv0SLSaK
— Sky Sports activities WSL (@SkySportsWSL) Could 29, 2025
“However for her, she thinks that is the most effective factor, and I’ll assist her in that all the time.”
Head coach Sarina Wiegman additionally addressed Earps’ exit, admitting she was “actually disillusioned and unhappy” concerning the resolution.
She added: “That will need to have been a very arduous resolution for her and so it’s for us.
“In fact, I’ve a few conversations which I don’t wish to share right here as a result of that’s between us. It’s arduous, I discover it arduous, and it’s arduous for her on the identical time.
“She has performed such an awesome job for England. She has made an enormous distinction and we’ve had an unbelievable journey to date. I actually cherish that.
“It’s emotional as a result of we even have a relationship and we’ve had such an enormous journey along with plenty of highs and, in fact, some lows too.
“That’s what makes it actually arduous. However we’ve to maneuver on and we don’t have time now to rejoice as a result of we’re going into the Euros.”
Earps concludes her England profession with 53 appearances throughout eight years.
She was a part of the squads that lifted the 2022 Euros trophy and the 2023 Girls’s Finalissima, and he or she additionally helped England attain the World Cup ultimate final 12 months.
