Sarina Wiegman left ‘sad' and ‘disappointed' after Mary Earps' shock retirement before Euro 2025
England coach Sarina Wiegman admits she was left 'disappointed' and 'sad' by Mary Earps' decision to retire before Euro 2025.
Earps has opted to call time on her availability for the Lionesses just five weeks before the European Championship.
The 32-year-old Paris Saint-Germain goalkeeper thrived for the Lionesses under Wiegman to help England win the 2022 Euro title and also finish runners-up at the 2023 World Cup.
But after the shock announcement on Tuesday, Wiegman praised Earps but revealed the decision left her upset.
"I just want to keep it that I'm disappointed and I'm sad,' said the England boss. 'I want her in the team and I just want to express the same things that I already have and I want to keep it that way.
"She has done such a great job for England. She has made a massive difference and we have had an incredible journey so far and I really cherish that.
"There have been a couple of conversations which I don't want to share here because they are between us. It's hard and it's hard for her at the same time.
Earps had come under strong competition from Hannah Hampton for the No. 1 jersey for England, with Wiegman previously admitting that the Chelsea shot-stopper was just ahead in the pecking order.
Wiegman also refused to divulge the nature of conversations between her and Earps in recent weeks and whether she attempted to change her mind.
"Of course we had conversations and as I've said I want to keep conversations confidential. She knows I want her in the team so of course we talked about that,' she added.
'But you're asking all these questions which will give you insight into the individual conversations we had. I don't want to go that way now."
England captain Leah Williamson also conceded that Earps' retirement makes England weaker.
"We are a team and we want to win and Mary in that team gives us a better chance of winning -- I know that to be true," said the Arsenal star.
"She is a leader. She has got experience. To lose her leaves a gap there but we have had that happen before and players have to step up and show what they are made of.'
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