Lucy Bronze admitted Mary Earps’ choice to retire from England responsibility is “troublesome to take” however hailed the influence the goalkeeper has made because the primary.

Earps introduced her shock retirement from worldwide soccer final week, lower than six weeks earlier than England launched their European Championship title defence.

The 32-year-old earned 53 caps for her nation and performed a starring position in the course of the Lionesses’ Euro 2022 triumph in addition to their run to the 2023 World Cup ultimate.

She gained the Greatest FIFA Goalkeeper award in each years however had lately misplaced her beginning place to Chelsea’s Hannah Hampton.

England head coach Sarina Wiegman had stated she was “disillusioned” by Earps’ choice to hold up her gloves, however Bronze was not shocked by the announcement.

“I feel I used to be the primary particular person she known as,” Bronze stated. “I used to be most likely within the know earlier than everybody else, simply because we’ve such a very good bond and connection.

“You consider gamers who know what it means to play for England, and Mary was proper on the prime. Her profession for England has been incredible.

“The information was troublesome to take as team-mates as a result of all of us love Mary, all of us need her to be right here. However as a pal, all of us settle for her choice and rejoice her and every thing she’s finished for this crew.

“Then we simply must look ahead. We’ve obtained incredible goalkeepers right here, and Mary has left a legacy which means they’re all in an amazing place. They’re all ready as a result of they’ve had an amazing mentor to study from.

“Hopefully, the goalkeepers that we’ve now can stay in that vitality and benefit from the truth they labored alongside such an amazing skilled, and so they can deliver that to the crew as nicely.”

England will possible have Millie Shiny again for his or her Euro 2025 marketing campaign, after the Chelsea captain withdrew from the squad for his or her Nations League matches as a consequence of feeling “burnt out”.

Shiny performed in 21 of Chelsea’s 22 Ladies’s Tremendous League matches in 2024-25, with solely Hampton (1,980) taking part in extra minutes than the defender (1,823) within the squad.

Throughout all competitions, she made 36 appearances for the Blues this season as they claimed a home treble.

Bronze stated she had been in contact along with her Chelsea team-mate, and believes it was a “courageous” choice to discuss her causes for pulling out of the squad.

“Millie is a very large persona and participant for England and for Chelsea,” Bronze added.

“She’s missed when it comes to what she brings each on and off the pitch. She’s one of many leaders within the crew, not simply because she’s the oldest, however due to her expertise, her attributes as an individual.

“We’ve all spoken to Millie by the week, we’re all buddies along with her, and we’ve supplied her our assist. We need to make sure that she’s OK.

“Bodily and mentally, it’s been a tricky season for everybody, however having spent day-after-day with Millie, she’s somebody who is sort of robust and perhaps holds quite a bit in. It’s been courageous for her to come back out and converse.

“From a pal perspective, I simply need her to be OK and provides her as a lot time as she must really feel OK once more.”