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Mary Earps announces shock retirement from England before European Women’s Championship

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Mary Earps has officially announced her retirement from international football, just 39 days ahead of England’s campaign in the UEFA Women’s European Championship. The 32-year-old goalkeeper, currently playing for Paris Saint-Germain, has earned 53 caps for England and played a vital role in the team’s triumphant run at Euro 2022.

Throughout her international career, Earps lifted multiple titles, including the Women’s Finalissima, the SheBelieves Cup, and the Arnold Clark Cup on two occasions.

She also stood in goal during England’s heartbreaking loss to Spain in the 2023 Women’s World Cup final.

Despite her achievements, recent indications suggested Earps was no longer the first-choice goalkeeper, with manager Sarina Wiegman expected to favor Chelsea’s Hannah Hampton for the upcoming tournament.

England will face France, the Netherlands, and Wales in Group D, starting on July 5, but Earps will not be part of the squad.

In her official statement, Earps shared that stepping away from the national team was a deeply considered and difficult decision.

She described representing her country as the greatest honor of her life and emphasized the pride she felt wearing the England badge.

She reflected on winning Euro 2022 as the best day of her career and expressed support for her teammates in their quest for glory this summer.

Posting separately on Instagram, Earps acknowledged that her international journey has never followed a smooth path. She admitted the timing—just before a major tournament—was unconventional, but affirmed her belief that stepping down was the right decision.

She hinted at complex factors behind her choice but stressed that her reasons were personal and not meant to be the focus now. Earps pledged her support for a new generation and expressed deep emotional investment in the game, adding that she had given everything to the sport and walked away with no regrets.

Recognized as FIFA’s Best Women’s Goalkeeper in both 2022 and 2023, Earps leaves behind a legacy that helped redefine the role and elevate the women’s game in England. Reacting to her departure, Sarina Wiegman expressed disappointment, noting she had envisioned Earps playing a key role this summer.

She acknowledged Earps’ significant impact on both the team and English football, promising a proper tribute after the tournament. For now, the Lionesses will shift their focus to the Women’s Nations League and the upcoming Euros.

The Football Association confirmed that a special tribute to Earps and her contribution to the national team will take place at a Lionesses match following the summer tournament.

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‘We want him’ – Club chief confirms he wants to sign Man Utd outcast in permanent transfer

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‘We want him’ – Club chief confirms he wants to sign Man Utd outcast in permanent transfer

Andre Onana could remain in Turkey beyond his loan spell, with Trabzonspor keen to secure him on a permanent deal.

The 30-year-old moved to Trabzonspor after falling out of favour at Manchester United, who brought in Senne Lammens last summer. Since then, Lammens has established himself as the club’s first-choice keeper, paving the way for Onana’s temporary switch.

In Turkey, however, Onana has rediscovered his form and quickly become a key figure. He recently grabbed attention with a standout performance in the Turkish Cup, saving three consecutive penalties to help his side overcome Samsunspor and reach the semi-finals.

The moment sparked widespread reactions online, especially from United supporters recalling their earlier penalty shootout defeat to Grimsby Town, where Onana managed just one save.

Trabzonspor president Ertugrul Dogan has openly expressed the club’s desire to keep the goalkeeper. He indicated that while Onana has his own career plans, the club would be eager to make the move permanent if the circumstances align, leaving the final decision in the player’s hands.

Back in England, United are expected to consider selling Onana, particularly with Lammens now firmly established as their number one. The club will likely aim to recover a significant portion of the £47.5 million they paid to sign him from Inter Milan in 2023, with two years still remaining on his contract.

Beyond his cup heroics, Onana has been a consistent presence in the league, starting every match for Trabzonspor and playing a vital role in their push for the title. His performances have earned strong praise in Turkey, with the club currently sitting third in the table, just six points behind leaders Galatasaray.

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Man City place Arsenal ‘bottles’ for sale outside Etihad Stadium before 2025/26 Premier League decider

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Man City place Arsenal 'bottles' for sale outside Etihad Stadium before 2025/26 Premier League decider

Manchester City appear to have kicked off the psychological battle ahead of their Premier League showdown with Arsenal.

In the build-up to the match, bottles branded with the Arsenal logo were reportedly being sold outside the stadium, priced cheaply and seemingly intended as a tongue-in-cheek way for home fans to mock the visiting supporters.

The stunt draws inspiration from a recent viral moment at Stamford Bridge, where a City fan was seen jokingly “drinking Arsenal tears” during their emphatic 3-0 win over Chelsea—a clip that quickly spread across social media.

With tensions already high given the importance of the fixture, the gesture adds another layer to the rivalry between the two sides. Arsenal, meanwhile, will be focused on responding where it matters most—on the pitch—as they aim to silence critics and deliver a strong result in what could be a defining game in the title race.

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Bruno Fernandes responds to Manchester United star’s dig at Chelsea flop Alejandro Garnacho

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Bruno Fernandes responds to Manchester United star’s dig at Chelsea flop Alejandro Garnacho

Alejandro Garnacho faced criticism from his former Manchester United teammates following Chelsea’s latest Premier League setback.

A first-half goal from Matheus Cunha secured a narrow but important win for United, strengthening the position of Michael Carrick’s side in the race for Champions League qualification. Chelsea, meanwhile, continue to struggle, with the defeat marking their fourth consecutive league loss without finding the net.

Pressure is mounting on head coach Liam Rosenior, who only took charge a few months ago after replacing Enzo Maresca. While the club has not publicly wavered in its support, questions are beginning to emerge over several players, including Garnacho, whose performances have failed to meet expectations since his £40 million move from Old Trafford.

Reports suggest Chelsea could be open to offers for the 21-year-old after a difficult start to life at Stamford Bridge. He had an early opportunity to impress against his former side after coming on for the injured Estevao, but once again struggled to make an impact, finding it hard to break through a United defence that was missing several first-choice centre-backs.

Garnacho also received a hostile reception from United supporters during the match, and the reaction appeared to carry over beyond the pitch. After the game, Luke Shaw shared an image on social media showing himself standing over Garnacho following a challenge. Bruno Fernandes responded with a playful but pointed comment, while former teammate Alex Telles also joined in with reactions.

Chelsea’s broader struggles are becoming increasingly concerning. They now sit four points behind Liverpool in the race for fifth place, despite having played an extra game. The current run—four straight league defeats without scoring—is their worst in nearly three decades, with an even longer drought not seen since 1912.

Across all competitions, the form is equally worrying, with six losses in their last seven matches and 16 goals conceded during that stretch. A significant portion of their recent goals have come in a single outing against Port Vale, highlighting their lack of consistency in front of goal.

After the match, Rosenior admitted uncertainty about what failing to qualify for the Champions League could mean for his future. He acknowledged the result was difficult to take, especially given that Chelsea created numerous chances but failed to convert them. He pointed out that United capitalised on a limited opportunity, while his side were unable to make their attacking pressure count.

Despite the frustration, Rosenior emphasized the need for continued effort and improvement, insisting that the team must find a way to turn their form around before the situation worsens further.

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