Mary Earps has opened up about the emotional turmoil she experienced before being dropped from the England squad, revealing she felt 'sick and anxious' in the lead-up to the decision. In an extract from her autobiography, the goalkeeper describes the painful road to her shock exit, including the moment manager Sarina Wiegman asked to speak with her in front of the entire team.
Earps recounts that after the Euro 2022 victory, the squad reviewed their performance at St George's Park. The only negative raised was the behaviour of Hannah Hampton, who was subsequently dropped for being disruptive and unreliable. Earps said the behaviour contradicted her professional values of preserving everything for performance and maintaining a healthy goalkeeper union.
In spring 2023, Wiegman called Earps to discuss bringing Hampton back. Earps expressed discomfort, citing the previous disharmony and the impact on team morale. However, Wiegman insisted that 'everyone deserves a second chance', and Hampton was reinstated. Earps respected the decision but kept her focus on retaining her standards.
In April 2024, after a team meeting, Wiegman called Earps back in front of everyone. Earps felt embarrassed and devastated, asking 'What have I done?' Wiegman confirmed she wanted to give someone else experience. Earps described the moment as 'the words I'd waited 12 months to hear', and admitted she did not understand or agree with the decision.
