Why Mary Earps walked out on Lionesses five weeks before beginning Euros defence

Mary Earps has shocked the Lionesses by quitting just five weeks before they begin the defence of their Euros title.

Goalkeeper Earps, 32, announced her immediate retirement from the international scene having lost the No1 shirt to Hannah Hampton.

And while has said tributes will be paid to Earps at the end of a hectic summer, the manager is said to be fuming at the timing of her decision to walk away.

Most of the England squad convened at St George’s Park on Monday ahead of a Nations League game against Portugal at Wembley on Friday. They also visit Spain next week.

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But Earps was absent and made her bombshell announcement after Wiegman recently stated that Hampton was a “little bit ahead” in the race to be first choice.

"This is the right time for me to step aside and give the younger generation an opportunity to thrive,” Earps said. "Winning the Euros in 2022 was the best day of my life, and I'm rooting for the girls to do it again this summer."

Wiegman hailed Earps for making a “huge contribution to the whole of English football” but could not mask her irritation by adding: “I had hoped that Mary would play an important role within the squad this summer, so of course I am disappointed.

“Mary has been clear on her reasons why she has made the decision and it is something we need to accept.”

Earps left last summer to join but found herself usurped by ’s Hampton for recent internationals.

In a post on social media she added: "My journey has never been the simplest, so in true Mary fashion, this isn't a simple goodbye - right before a major tournament.

"Nonetheless, I know this is the right decision. There are so many dimensions to this decision, the details of which aren't important right now.

"This is a new era and a new England team, and I'm looking forward to watching them this summer. I know that while this won't make sense to some who are reading this, you can trust that I would not be doing this unless I thought it was absolutely the right thing to do, as much as it hurts.

"I have given everything, my heart and soul. I left it all out there on the pitch and did my best to help systemic change of it. I have no regrets."

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