England skipper Leah Williamson has expressed her assist for Mary Earps following the goalkeeper’s retirement from worldwide soccer.
Earps, who just 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’ determination as egocentric, Williamson defended her good friend’s selection.
“I feel 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 one of the best determination for her. We’ll miss her.”
Williamson, recent 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 one in all my closest mates in soccer – so I’m devastated, simply because I really like her, I really like being her team-mate,” she added.
“I feel the way in which that she wears the England shirt is an instance to us all so I’m very unhappy that these reminiscences are usually not going to proceed in an England shirt.
England head coach Sarina Wiegman “wished Mary Earps in her group” this summer season, after the goalkeeper introduced her worldwide retirement earlier this week. pic.twitter.com/C2Rv0SLSaK
— Sky Sports activities WSL (@SkySportsWSL) May 29, 2025
“However for her, she thinks that is one of the best factor, and I’ll assist her in that at all times.”
Head coach Sarina Wiegman additionally addressed Earps’ exit, admitting she was “actually dissatisfied and unhappy” concerning the determination.
She added: “That will need to have been a very exhausting determination 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 exhausting, I discover it exhausting, and it’s exhausting for her on the identical time.
“She has accomplished such a fantastic job for England. She has made a large distinction and we’ve had an unbelievable journey up to now. I actually cherish that.
“It’s emotional as a result of we even have a relationship and we’ve had such a large journey along with a number of highs and, after all, some lows too.
“That’s what makes it actually exhausting. However now we have to maneuver on and we don’t have time now to have fun 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.
