Mary Earps, the celebrated England goalkeeper, has revealed that she felt "villainised" by some of the reaction to her recent decision to retire from international football. The Paris Saint-Germain player, who was instrumental in England's Euro 2022 victory and their journey to the 2023 World Cup final, announced her retirement in May, just weeks before the UEFA Women's Euro 2025.

Earps' announcement came as a shock to many, including England's head coach Sarina Wiegman, who admitted to being "disappointed" by the decision, as she had hoped Earps would play a significant role in the upcoming Euros. Wiegman acknowledged Earps' immense contribution to the team and English football as a whole.

In a statement released after her announcement, Earps said, "I have taken the difficult decision to retire internationally". She described representing her country as "the greatest honour and privilege" of her life and expressed immense pride in playing alongside her England teammates. She added that it was not a decision she had taken lightly. "I've spent a long time making this decision and it's not one I've made lightly," Earps explained. "For me, ultimately this is the right time for me to step aside and give the younger generation an opportunity to thrive". She also stated that "winning the Euros in 2022 was the best day of my life and I'm rooting for the girls to do it again this summer".

Despite her own conviction that it was the right time to step down, the reaction to Earps' retirement was not universally supportive. While many fans and teammates expressed their respect and admiration for her achievements, some criticised her decision, leading Earps to feel "villainised". However, she also stated that the support from her England teammates "meant the absolute world to me".

The timing of Earps' retirement also raised questions, with some speculating whether she had been told that she would no longer be England's number one goalkeeper. Competition for the position had indeed intensified with the emergence of Chelsea's Hannah Hampton, whom Wiegman had previously indicated was "a little bit ahead". Some suggest that accepting a deputy role would not have been easy for a player of Earps' caliber.

Following the announcement and the subsequent reactions, Earps took a break from social media, explaining that it had been "a difficult and emotional few days". She also thanked those who had sent messages of support.

Earps' international career spanned eight years and included 53 caps for England. She played a crucial role in the Lionesses' success, securing the Euro 2022 trophy and the 2023 Women's Finalissima cup. She was also awarded the Golden Glove at the 2023 World Cup and was named BBC Sports Personality of the Year in 2023.

Despite retiring from international duty, Earps will continue to play club football. She currently plays for Paris Saint-Germain, having joined the team from Manchester United last year.