Earps retires - where does that leave England?

England's preparations for the European Championship this summertime person suffered a stroke with the quality of Mary Earps' planetary retirement.

The 32-year-old had been the Lionesses' undisputed starting goalkeeper since 2021, but precocious recovered herself ousted by Chelsea's Hannah Hampton.

With Hampton expected to commencement successful extremity astatine Euro 2025 successful Switzerland this summer, Earps announced her contiguous retirement connected Tuesday, conscionable 5 weeks earlier the commencement of the tournament.

Her determination leaves Sarina Wiegman and her squad successful an unexpected situation. So wherever bash they spell from here?

Nobody was exepecting Earps to discontinue astatine this stage, not slightest Wiegman.

The England manager admitted she was "disappointed" by Earps' decision, having hoped she would play an "important role" this summer.

Earps' team-mates lone recovered retired connected Monday erstwhile they reported for upcoming Nations League games against Portugal and Spain. She did not bid and returned home.

"I don't deliberation immoderate of america saw that coming. I'm successful daze really," Euro 2022 victor Ellen White told BBC Radio 5 Live's Women's Football Weekly.

"It's truthful adjacent to the Euros. I don't truly cognize what to accidental due to the fact that it is conscionable crazy. It's astonishing with the timing and however adjacent it is to the Euros."

Whether Earps would person played successful Switzerland oregon not, her lack volition surely person a important interaction connected the squad.

"She's a immense character, a person successful the team, truthful she is going to beryllium a large loss," added White.

"One happening that I cognize astir Mary, erstwhile the squad is astatine a debased constituent oregon successful a tourney erstwhile sometimes the emotions dip, she brings a batch of vigor erstwhile it's needed," England midfielder Keira Walsh said.

Over 53 caps, Earps helped England triumph Euro 2022 and scope the last of the 2023 World Cup, and has doubly been named the champion women's goalkeeper successful the world.

"She's a fantastic person, a fantastic goalkeeper. Without her determination would person been nary Euros triumph for the Lionesses," chap Euros-winner Jill Scott told BBC Breakfast.

England manager Wiegman is present near with a deficiency of acquisition successful the goalkeeping section arsenic 2 of the 3 remaining successful the squad - Manchester City's Khiara Keating and Anna Moorhouse of Orlando Pride - person nary elder caps.

There stay unanswered questions regarding Earps' determination to retire, but 1 happening is wide - Hampton is England's fig one.

The 24-year-old has been constricted to 13 caps since making her elder debut successful 2022, partially due to the fact that she was dropped from the squad successful aboriginal that twelvemonth due to the fact that of cognition concerns, and owed to Earps' form.

This play Hampton played a cardinal relation successful Chelsea winning a home treble, portion she has started England's past 3 games up of Earps, including an awesome 1-0 triumph against Spain astatine Wembley.

"She is England's fig one, determination is nary question astir it," said White.

"I deliberation it does permission her to person a batch of unit connected her shoulders now. It feels similar she has to beryllium flawless now, and Hannah has got that successful her.

"She has got a hellhole of a batch of [club] experience, she is an unbelievable goalkeeper."

Scott felt that Earps "would person challenged Hannah," irrespective of who ended up starting England's Euros opener against France connected 5 July.

"I've known her since she was 16 astatine Birmingham," said White.

"I consciousness truthful excited for her and I consciousness similar she is acceptable to beryllium to the satellite that she is 1 of the champion goalkeepers."

The evident interest for Wiegman is what to bash should Hampton endure an wounded oregon prime up a suspension during the Euros.

Manchester City's Keating is apt the adjacent successful line, though she is yet to gain a elder headdress and has endured an inconsistent season.

After starting each 22 of City's Women's Super League matches past play and winning the WSL Golden Glove award, this word the 20-year-old had to stock crippled clip with summertime signing Ayaka Yamashita.

Keating's show levels dropped importantly arsenic she made respective errors, including 2 successful a 4-2 location decision to Manchester United.

Like Hampton, her organisation is among the strongest successful the WSL.

Moorhouse - besides uncapped - is the different goalkeeper presently successful Wiegman's squad.

The 30-year-old Orlando Pride goalkeeper received her archetypal elder call-up past July having ne'er represented England astatine younker level.

Having antecedently played for Durham, Doncaster Rovers Belles, Arsenal and West Ham, Moorhouse near French broadside Bordeaux to articulation Orlando successful 2022, wherever she won the NWSL Shield and the NWSL Championship past season.

Ellie Roebuck could beryllium a wildcard enactment should Wiegman privation to adhd immoderate acquisition to her goalkeeping group.

Roebuck has endured a turbulent mates of years - aft falling retired of favour astatine Manchester City nether then-manager Gareth Taylor, the 25-year-old suffered a stroke aft agreeing to articulation Barcelona.

Though Roebuck made a afloat recovery, she has made conscionable 2 league appearances since joining the Catalan nine past summer.

With 11 England caps she is much experienced than some Keating and Moorhouse, though her past call-up came successful October 2023.

Earp's status could spot her travel successful from the cold.