England must build with younger goalkeepers after Mary Earps retirement says Jess Carter

LONDON – England women’s defender Jess Carter said the sudden retirement of their decorated goalkeeper Mary Earps was a big blow to the national team, who will have to switch focus to building connections with the younger goalkeepers in camp.

The 32-year-old Earps, who helped England win Euro 2022 and reach the 2023 World Cup final, said on May 27 she was calling time on her international career, five weeks before the team kick off the defence of their European Championship title.

“I was surprised and really sad,” Carter said from the England training base at St George’s Park.

“Mary is an incredible person and incredible goalkeeper. I don’t know many people that have worked as hard as she has and I’m just sad that she’s not going to be here. It’s a huge loss.

“She doesn’t lack in the confidence department on the pitch... We no longer have that so it’s about building those connections with the other goalkeepers that we’ve got and making sure they are as strong as possible for the Euros.”

Earps won two Fifa Best Awards, a World Cup Golden Glove and BBC Sports Personality of the Year award for 2023, but England coach Sarina Wiegman has selected Chelsea’s 24-year-old Hannah Hampton over Earps for recent Nations League games.

“I have two world-class goalkeepers. At the moment, (Hannah) is a little bit ahead,” Wiegman said in April.

Earps bid an emotional farewell to her teammates at St George’s where they are preparing for two Nations League games.

“It was nice to see her but then, yes, it was a little bit tough,” Carter added. “I can imagine it was tougher for her than anyone else so we just tried to be there to support her.”

Asked how it will feel not having Earps hollering behind