The Manchester United star has always been Sarina Wiegman's No.1, but the goalkeeping department is more competitive now
Only a few months ago, the sight of Mary Earps limping off injured would've been an absolute disaster for the Lionesses. That's exactly what happened on Friday as the England No.1 winced in pain after a routine passing motion inside the first 30 seconds of an eventual 2-1 defeat to France. A few minutes later, after valiant attempts to continue, she was forced off. On Tuesday, England will be out for revenge against Les Bleues – and they'll have to get it without Earps in between the sticks.
Fortunately, though, the Lionesses are not in disaster territory anymore. It's a good job really, because they find themselves in a rather difficult spot in qualifying for the 2025 European Championship, at which they would be the defending champions, having emerged victorious in just one of their first three games.
Earps is unavailable in Saint-Etienne on Tuesday as England attempt to do something they've not done since 1973 and beat the French in France, because of a 'minor' hip problem. But in Hannah Hampton, Sarina Wiegman has a top-class replacement, one whom she has huge faith in, and the Chelsea shot-stopper is perfectly capable of, once again, showing just why that is the case.
GettyLack of competition
It's not long since Earps was the only England goalkeeper who was actually getting game time at club level. When Wiegman chose her squad for October, she selected Earps; two shot-stoppers, in Ellie Roebuck and Hampton, who had yet to see a minute of action in the 2023-24 season; and uncapped teenager Khiara Keating, who had usurped Roebuck and Sandy MacIver to become Manchester City's No.1. MacIver, City's second-choice goalkeeper, had previously been an option for the Lionesses, too, but changed her allegiance to Scotland before the October camp after winning one England cap in four years.
“We want players to play because when they play, we can see them and their performances make us pick them," Wiegman said at the time. "[Roebuck and Hampton] have built a little bit of credit with us because they have been with our team for a long period of time and done well in training sessions, shown up all the time. I think they still are among the best goalkeepers in the country and I just hope in the future they do get minutes. That makes it a little bit complicated, but I did pick them because I still think they are the best in the country."
AdvertisementGetty ImagesNot ideal
It's a situation that would take time to improve, too. MacIver's switch reduced the player pool, Roebuck continued to struggle for minutes and sadly even suffered a type of stroke during the 2023-24 season, all while Hampton remained patient in waiting for her Chelsea chance. Keating had shown her quality and incredible potential, sure, but she was still so raw and inexperienced.
It made Earps more important than ever, really, because if something was to have happened to her, Wiegman would have to throw in a rusty goalkeeper or a teenage debutante. That would not exactly have been ideal while England were battling top-level opposition for a place in the Nations League finals and at the Olympics. These were high-pressure, high-stakes games.
GettyPatience a virtue
But things have changed since. In December, Hampton made her Chelsea debut and she has now become the Blues' regular first-choice goalkeeper, even if Zecira Musovic still earned some opportunities in the second half of the season. After her first outing for the club, no one kept more clean sheets in the Women's Super League than Hampton, with Keating the only goalkeeper to boast a higher save percentage in that time (of those to make more than five appearances).
"I say this as the future USA coach: England are so lucky," then-Chelsea manager Emma Hayes said of Hampton in March. "I remember watching her play at Birmingham and I said, 'She is going to be a top, top goalkeeper'. I genuinely believe Hannah has all the ability to become the best in the world."
GettyChances for the Lionesses
That form translated into more opportunities with England, too, as Hampton earned a rare start during February's friendly window. "She has done well at Chelsea," Wiegman told ahead of the 23-year-old winning just her third cap. "We know Mary is our No.1 goalkeeper but we need to have an option when something is happening with Mary, [to know] Hannah is ready to go."
Wiegman then went one further in April when she started Hampton against Ireland, in a Euro 2025 qualifier. It was the first time since September 2022, when Roebuck played against Luxembourg, that Earps wasn't England's starting goalkeeper for a competitive match. It was Hampton's first appearance in a game of such meaning since April 2022.
"She's growing into competition with Mary," Wiegman said, which felt notable. Earps has been No.1 for her country since the Dutchwoman took over in September 2021 – but it suddenly feels like there is a real battle for that position now.
