Pressure on England stars as Euro looms

England’s women became national heroes on the back of winning Euro 2022, but the Lionesses’ defence of the title is off to an inauspicious start with three of their stars from three years ago not involved.

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Goalkeeper Mary Earps and midfielder Fran Kirby have retired from international football in differing circumstances on the eve of the tournament in Switzerland.

Earps had fallen behind Chelsea's Hannah Hampton in the battle to be Sarina Wiegman’s No.1 but the England boss was still frustrated at the Paris Saint-Germain stopper's decision.

Kirby, by contrast, brought her retirement forward upon learning she was unlikely to make the 23-women squad.

Millie Bright, who captained England to a first World Cup final in 2023, has also withdrawn herself from selection due to physical and mental fatigue.

“You have to move on,” said Wiegman after announcing her squad.

“My experience before tournaments is that there is always noise. We expect noise until we go into the tournament. It doesn’t feel like a crisis at all.”