In the thrilling world of football, each tournament brings with it a new story, and England’s goalkeepers, Mary Earps and Hannah Hampton, have both penned captivating chapters in the UEFA Women’s European Championship.
As we delve into the legacy of these two remarkable athletes, we explore how their contrasting styles and careers have shaped England’s victories in Euro 2022 and Euro 2025.
Mary Earps, renowned for her assertive goalkeeping and crucial reflex saves, played a pivotal role in England’s triumph on home soil, providing a steadfast backbone to the team’s defence. Meanwhile, Hannah Hampton’s rise to prominence in Euro 2025 was marked by her exceptional distribution and penalty shootout heroics, which not only secured England’s title but also highlighted her as a goalkeeper with a flair for the dramatic. Hannah Hampton has expressed her desire to live up to Mary Earps’ legacy as England’s No. 1 goalkeeper.
Tournament Performances
The UEFA Women’s European Championship has been a stage for exceptional goalkeeping talent, with Mary Earps and Hannah Hampton both leaving indelible marks on England’s success in 2022 and 2025 respectively. This section examines their performances throughout the tournament stages, highlighting key moments that defined their impact on England’s victories.
Group Stage Comparisons
Mary Earps’ Euro 2022 group stage performance was characterised by remarkable consistency and clean sheets. She kept a perfect defensive record, matching a tournament record with four clean sheets in the group stage.
In contrast, Hannah Hampton’s Euro 2025 journey began with a challenging opener against France, where England suffered a 2-1 defeat. However, she quickly rebounded, showcasing her resilience and skill in subsequent matches.
Hampton’s standout moment came in the 4-0 victory over the Netherlands, where she not only kept a clean sheet but also demonstrated her exceptional distribution skills, playing a crucial role in England’s first goal.
Knockout Stage Highlights
Earps’ quarter-final performance against Spain in 2022 was pivotal, with her fingertip save when England were 1-0 down preventing Spain from extending their lead. This moment was widely regarded as a turning point in England’s campaign.
Hampton’s quarter-final heroics in 2025 were equally impressive. Against Sweden, she made crucial saves in regular time and was the star of the penalty shootout, saving two spot-kicks. Her resilience was further highlighted as she played through a nosebleed sustained in extra time.
Both goalkeepers made significant contributions in their respective semi-finals, with Earps keeping a clean sheet against Sweden and Hampton making a decisive save in the closing minutes against Italy.
Final Match Impact
In the Euro 2022 final, Earps conceded one goal but made crucial saves that contributed to England’s historic 2-1 victory over Germany. Her overall tournament performance was a key factor in England’s success.
Hampton’s impact in the Euro 2025 final was even more dramatic. Despite conceding in the first half, she became the hero of the penalty shootout, saving two crucial penalties to secure England’s victory. Her performance earned her the Player of the Match award in the final.
Both goalkeepers’ final performances were defining moments in their careers, cementing their status as key figures in England’s footballing history.
Mary Earps’ Club Journey
Mary Earps’ club career has been characterised by diversity and resilience. She has played for several Women’s Super League (WSL) clubs, including Bristol Academy, Birmingham City, and Reading.
Her move to VfL Wolfsburg in 2018 provided valuable international experience, exposing her to different playing styles and high-pressure situations in the Bundesliga and Champions League.
Earps’ return to England with Manchester United in 2019 marked a turning point in her career. It was here that she established herself as one of the premier goalkeepers in the WSL, laying the foundation for her Euro 2022 success.
Hannah Hampton’s Club Success
Hannah Hampton’s club journey, while shorter, has been equally impactful. She began her professional career with Birmingham City, where she quickly made a name for herself as a promising young goalkeeper.
Her move to Aston Villa in 2021 provided her with regular first-team football, allowing her to develop and showcase her skills consistently in the WSL. This period was crucial in catching the eye of national team selectors.
Hampton’s transfer to Chelsea in 2023 proved to be a catalyst for her rapid development. In the 2024-25 season, she cemented her place as Chelsea’s first-choice goalkeeper, playing every game and sharing the WSL Golden Glove award with 13 clean sheets. This club success directly preceded and prepared her for her Euro 2025 heroics.
Earps’ Goalkeeping Style
Mary Earps is known for her assertive and commanding presence in goal. Her style is characterised by excellent positioning, quick reflexes, and strong communication with her defence.
Earps excels in one-on-one situations and has a reputation for making crucial saves in high-pressure moments. Her distribution, while solid, is more traditional compared to Hampton’s.
Looking to the future, Earps has expressed a desire to continue pushing her boundaries, as evidenced by her move to PSG in 2024. She aims to win further individual accolades and leave a lasting legacy in women’s football.
Hampton’s Unique Approach
Hannah Hampton’s goalkeeping style is notable for its modern, sweeper-keeper approach. Her exceptional distribution skills, honed from her time as a youth striker, set her apart from many of her contemporaries.
Despite being born cross-eyed and lacking depth perception, Hampton has developed unique techniques to overcome this challenge, showcasing remarkable adaptability and resilience.
Hampton’s future aspirations include building on her Euro 2025 success and establishing herself as England’s long-term number one. She has expressed a desire to inspire the next generation of goalkeepers and contribute to further international success for England.
Should Mary Earps Get a Testimonial?
Only a handful of England players have ever been granted a national team testimonial — Wayne Rooney among them. And here’s the thing: Rooney never won anything with England. Mary Earps did. She anchored the Lionesses through their first major trophy at Euro 2022, stood tall in a World Cup final, and left the shirt in a better place than she found it.
Earps retired in May 2025 with 53 senior caps, a European title, and the admiration of a nation. She wasn’t just a goalkeeper — she was a trailblazer. She fought to have her shirt sold in stores, she changed the way people saw the position, and she made it cool to be the last line of defence.
A testimonial for Mary wouldn’t just be a thank you — it would be a statement. That we honour greatness when we see it. That winning and changing the game matters. That we don’t forget the women who showed us what’s possible.
Of course, the timing of her retirement just before Euro 2025 did spark criticism. Some felt it was a distraction, triggered by being told she’d no longer be the starting keeper. But even if the timing was messy, the legacy is anything but.
She gave everything. She inspired thousands.
Give her a testimonial. She earned it.
Should Hannah Hampton Ever Leave Chelsea?
Arguments for staying: Chelsea have given Hampton a platform to thrive. She won the Golden Glove, played every minute of a domestic treble, and fits perfectly in Sonia Bompastor’s possession-based system. There’s consistency, trophies, and world-class coaching — why walk away?
Arguments for moving: If she wants to test herself like Earps did at Wolfsburg or PSG, a move abroad could add new dimensions to her game. Different tactical systems, new challenges, and international exposure might sharpen her skills even further — especially ahead of future World Cups.
Final Verdict: Who Played Best for England?
Let’s be honest — comparing the two is like choosing between Cate Blanchett in a suit and Kristen Stewart in a suit. Both gave us power. Both gave us chills.
Mary Earps was the rock in Euro 2022. Calm, composed, and unshakably reliable. Her fingertip save against Spain changed England’s destiny. She didn’t need the drama — she was the drama’s antidote.
Hannah Hampton, on the other hand, gave us the cinematic arc. Bleeding in extra time. Two shootout saves. A Player of the Match final. If Earps was the novel you couldn’t put down, Hampton was the action-packed sequel.
So… who was better?
Let’s say this: Earps made the crucial early saves that made belief possible. Hampton made the show-stopping ones that sealed the deal. Pick your poison — safe hands or shootout stardom. Either way, England lifted the trophy, and two legends were born.
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