Former England GK Mary Earps Says She Felt Villainised After Retirement

Mary Earps, former England goalkeeper and national hero for her pivotal role in England's Euro 2022 victory and the subsequent World Cup final run, announced her retirement from international football just weeks before Euro 2025. She revealed that the decision was difficult and accompanied by painful criticism, which left her feeling villainized, particularly as her friends and family were affected by the backlash. Earps stepped down partly because she was informed by coach Sarina Wiegman that she would not be the first-choice goalkeeper for the upcoming tournament, and she wanted to give younger players the opportunity. Despite the emotional toll, Earps described the retirement as the right choice after giving her all mentally and physically to the sport, emphasizing her privacy and internal processing of the situation. She expressed confidence in the strength of the England team and looks forward to supporting them in their title defense. Earps was recognized as the best goalkeeper in the last World Cup, winning the golden glove and the BBC Sports Personality of the Year award, cementing her legacy even as she steps away from international duty.