Where does Earps retirement leave England?

England's preparations for nan European Championship this summertime person suffered a rustle pinch nan news of Mary Earps' world retirement.

The 32-year-old had been nan 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 nan commencement of nan tournament.

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

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

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

Earps' team-mates only recovered retired connected Monday erstwhile they reported for upcoming Nations League games against Portugal and Spain. She did not train 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 nan Euros. I don't really cognize what to opportunity because it is conscionable crazy. It's astonishing pinch nan timing and really adjacent it is to nan Euros."

Whether Earps would person played successful Switzerland aliases not, her absence will surely person a important effect connected nan squad.

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

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

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

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

England head Wiegman is now near pinch a deficiency of acquisition successful nan goalkeeping section arsenic 2 of nan 3 remaining successful nan 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 point is clear - Hampton is England's number one.

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

This play Hampton played a cardinal domiciled successful Chelsea winning a home treble, while 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 number one, location is nary mobility astir it," said White.

"I deliberation it does time off her to person a batch of unit connected her shoulders now. It feels for illustration she has to beryllium flawless now, and Hannah has sewage that successful her.

"She has sewage 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 for illustration she is fresh to beryllium to nan world that she is 1 of nan champion goalkeepers."

The evident interest for Wiegman is what to do should Hampton suffer an wounded aliases prime up a suspension during nan Euros.

Manchester City's Keating is apt nan 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 nan WSL Golden Glove award, this word nan 20-year-old had to stock crippled clip pinch summertime signing Ayaka Yamashita.

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

Like Hampton, her distribution is among nan strongest successful nan WSL.

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

The 30-year-old Orlando Pride goalkeeper received her first 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 subordinate Orlando successful 2022, wherever she won nan NWSL Shield and nan NWSL Championship past season.

Ellie Roebuck could beryllium a wildcard action should Wiegman want 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, nan 25-year-old suffered a stroke aft agreeing to subordinate Barcelona.

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

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

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