England head coach Sarina Wiegman has responded to revelations in Mary Earps’ memoir All In, saying she selects squads to win and would not have handled the goalkeeper situation with Earps and Hannah Hampton differently. Speaking after naming her final Lionesses squad of 2025, Wiegman addressed the fallout from Earps’ account and the questions that dominated her press conference.
In All In, Earps alleges she warned Wiegman that reinstating Hampton to the England squad in April 2024 was effectively rewarding poor behaviour, and that Hampton’s off-field conduct during the Euro 2022 campaign had repeatedly disrupted training and team resources. Earps says she told Wiegman she felt uncomfortable with the idea of Hampton’s return and that the coach’s subsequent handling of the matter contributed to Earps announcing an immediate international retirement ahead of Euro 2025.
Wiegman said the coaching staff talk regularly with players and recognise that people experience situations differently. She stressed she aims to create an environment that encourages players to speak up, that she gives clarity where needed, and that her selections are made to win. She noted the England squad has two excellent goalkeepers within a competitive unit and that, after weighing the options, she chose the player she believed was right at the time.
Wiegman reiterated she enjoyed working with Earps and valued their time together. Asked whether she would change her approach in hindsight, Wiegman said the staff are thorough, the goalkeeper group was strong and competitive, and she would have acted the same way. She acknowledged there are always lessons to learn but did not see the episode as requiring a different overall approach.
On contact with the players, Wiegman said she has not spoken to Earps since the book was published but has been in routine contact with Hampton and confirmed Hampton is currently injured and unavailable for camp. She also reflected on the intense media and social-media scrutiny players endure and said helping players manage that pressure is part of modern international football.
What Earps wrote
Earps’ account describes how, after Euro 2022 and the run to the 2023 World Cup final, Wiegman brought Hampton back into the England squad in April 2024 and told Earps that Hampton would be first choice for the foreseeable future. Earps says she felt both relief and disappointment when she was given only a brief opportunity to respond and that she wished Wiegman had been more direct from the start. Earps writes that Wiegman told her the decision had only just been made; Earps characterised that reply as unconvincing and says it prompted her initial retirement announcement.
Earps says she later rescinded that decision following a conversation with Wiegman before PSG’s league semi-final play-off in May and agreed to continue. But she writes that a subsequent remark from Wiegman — that she had not watched a match Earps had won — made Earps feel the relationship lacked mutual commitment. After the Champions League final Earps decided again to retire, telling Wiegman she could not continue; Earps describes Wiegman’s short response and apparent disappointment as confirming to her that Wiegman had not truly wanted her to stay.
Following Earps’ final withdrawal from international duty, Hampton played a decisive role as England beat Spain to win the Euros that summer, saving two penalties in the final. In September, Earps appeared on stage to present Hampton with the inaugural women’s Yashin Trophy in recognition of her club and international performances.
Wiegman’s fuller remarks
At the press conference Wiegman emphasised the importance of confidentiality in private conversations and said it is disappointing when such talks are made public. She said her focus remains on preparing the team — selecting squads, analysing opponents and matches, and getting ready for upcoming fixtures, including games at Wembley and in Southampton.
Asked whether the episode risked dividing the squad, Wiegman said she was not concerned. She underlined that team dynamics are always present, that she keeps her door open to players, and that knowing them helps staff support their needs on and off the pitch. While acknowledging the situation was difficult for Hampton because of media attention, Wiegman said coping with scrutiny is part of being a high-profile international player.
Wiegman concluded that she will continue to communicate clearly, select the players she believes give England the best chance to compete, learn from each situation, and concentrate on preparing the squad for future matches.