Another international match, another win and clean sheet, and another trophy in the bag for Nottingham-born Lioness, Mary Earps, following England’s penalty shoot-out success, on Thursday night, in the Finalissima, against Brazil.
Earps, who was born in our fair, old county, and began her career with West Bridgford Colts, and had an early spell with Nottingham Forest (2010-11 season), has now claimed five trophies with the national team.
The Finalissima, between the European Championship winners (England), and South American Copa America winners (Brazil) went the distance, the two nations finishing level, 1-1, after ninety minutes; Earps pulled off some great saves during the contest, before a brilliant, diving save, in the shoot-out, from Tamires, England claiming the trophy, 4-2 on penalties.
It adds to the European Championship (2022), two Arnold Clark Cups (2022, 2023), and a SheBelieves Cup (2019), in which Earps has collected thus far in her international career; she’ll be hoping her Manchester United side can stave off the challenges of Chelsea, Arsenal, and Manchester City (we’ve heard that before), to lift a maiden, Women’s Super League title.
Then, it’s onto this summer’s World Cup, in Australia/New Zealand, Earps telling ITV Sport after the game that: “I’m relieved. That just sums up goalkeeping in the space of five minutes.
“I’m disappointed with the goal (Andressa Alves equalising in second-half stoppage time).
“I would have preferred the clean sheet but I really wanted to make it up to the girls.
“We won, so that’s the most important thing.
“I thought we played really well first half, second half we made it really difficult for ourselves.
“We didn’t keep the ball well. They changed tactically and really got into the game.
“There’s plenty to review and improve upon.”
England’s next outing will be their last prior to the World Cup finals, the Lionesses looking to stretch that current, thirty match unbeaten run, to summer glory, when they face Australia, on 11 April (at Brentford).
As for Earps, and England’s World Cup dreams, that begins with a game against Haiti, in Brisbane, on 22 July, before games against Denmark and China.
In the build-up to the Finalissima, at Wembley Stadium England honoured numerous, past Lionesses, former Nottingham Forest midfielder, Audrey Rigby, receiving her legacy cap at St. George’s Park.
Rigby, now 65-years-old, played for Nottingham Forest Ladies in the early-1970s, and was part of the England squads that played Wales (won 4-0) Scotland (won 5-1), in the 1976 Pony Home International Championship.
In returning to her native New Zealand, Rigby would go on to make fourteen, international appearances, for the Football Ferns (New Zealand Women), between 1983 and 1987, debuting in the goalless draw with Australia in late November of ’83, and scoring once.
*Article provided by Peter Mann (Senior Correspondent).
*Main image @BRFootball Mary Earps adds more silverware to her international collection.