Former England goalkeeper Mary Earps, who until recently had been Sarina Wiegman’s undisputed No.1 choice, has shocked England fans in the past few days after her newly released autobiography exposed tensions within the squad.
Central to the story is the hero of the Lionesses’ summer, Hannah Hampton, whose impeccable performances at the 2025 Euros helped England to yet another strong campaign. Yet Hampton’s path to success has been far from straightforward. Following the 2022 European Championships, Hampton was dropped from subsequent England squads and camps. When asked about this decision, Wiegman refused to elaborate, explaining it was something she would “not like to comment on”. However, it was widely rumoured that her omission during that time was due to issues with her attitude.
Hampton was slowly reintroduced into the squad in early 2023, and by 2025, she had replaced Earps as the starting goalkeeper. According to Earps’ new biography, she had told Wiegman that “bad behaviour is being rewarded” following Hampton’s recall. Earps goes on to explain that she “felt protective of the good energy we had now had in goalkeeper training and the morale of the wider team.” Later in the season, Wiegman named Hampton ahead of Earps for a European Championship qualifier match – a decision Earps described as “unjust” and “against my core values”. In April 2025, Earps was told that she was no longer considered England’s main starter, and hence she announced her shock retirement from the international stage just a few weeks before the Euros.
In an interview with The Guardian, Earps said that she and Hannah had experienced a “misalignment of values,” but she had messaged her to say, “look, no bad blood.” Although Sarina Weigman has stayed silent on the matter, Chelsea manager Sonia Bompastor has spoken out, calling for Earps to “show more respect”. Bompastor had also commented on Hannah’s character, stating “I’m really pleased with who Hannah is”.
The controversy has divided Lionesses fans. Some sympathise deeply with Earps, arguing she was undervalued after years of giving her everything to the game and her team. Her decision to speak out now seems to indicate the strength of her emphasis on team culture and values that many fans respect. However, others see this decision as counterproductive and resentful. Earps’ choice to speak out publicly risks harming the legacy of the Lionesses, and her openly critical remarks about her replacement, coming directly after her retirement, have some fans wondering whether they stem from a sense of aggrievement.
