England 1-0 Spain (Hemp 3’)

WEMBLEY – From the phantoms of England’s past, to a near ghost-goal.

Before England’s vital win over Spain in World Cup qualifying, there were concerns it would be overshadowed by a pre-match ceremony honouring Euro 2022 winner Mary Earps. It came just months after her explosive autobiography and its tirades against Hannah Hampton and Sarina Wiegman, when she questioned the manager’s integrity and her successor’s attitude.

It was feared, too, that Earps’ return on Tuesday night risked piling unwelcome pressure on Hampton, who has looked short of confidence in the Women’s Super League. Instead, the Chelsea stopper’s remarkable 90th-minute save ensured England held firm at Wembley after Lauren Hemp’s early strike that just crept over the line.

Keira Walsh hailed an “unbelievable goalkeeper”. Fran Kirby, on BBC commentary, admitted Hampton had “come into this camp with a lot of question marks around her because of her form at club, the goals she has been conceding – but this is the moment for her confidence to grow again”.

Here was a night when the Lionesses put several demons to bed. Earps walked out to huge cheers and most significantly, Spain – beaten in last year’s Euros final but nevertheless world champions – were left frustrated, bruised, thwarted again.

It might all have gone so differently, as with so many aspect of Earps’ shock retirement a year ago. She stood accused of letting her teammates down, bowing out just months before the Euros having learned she would be playing understudy to Hampton in Switzerland.

Back on the ground where she played her own part in winning a European Championship four years ago, Earps reminisced about “my favourite memory of all time” and “the best thing I’ve ever done in my life”. She posed for photos with her parents; Leah Williamson sprinted towards her; no sooner had she appeared than Lucy Bronze had put an arm around her.

In the fallout from her book it should not have been forgotten that Earps is a Lionesses legend and one of the most influential players in women’s football history. Over eight years she won 53 caps, won one major tournament and reached the final of another, which included a famous penalty save despite defeat to Spain.

As FA chair Debbie Hewitt presented her with a bouquet of flowers and a framed shirt, it was a reminder that the gesture carried more weight for the stopper than most.

In 2023 she forced Nike into a U-turn over their failure to make women’s goalkeeping replica kits – she did more than any other to make keeping cool and it is fitting that the toxicity surrounding her departure has finally waned.

Read more

For Wiegman, the conflict between sticking with her history-makers and bedding in a future generation is one that has never really gone away. Lucia Kendall was given an experimental role as a deep-lying No 10 – a huge test for the 21-year-old against the world’s best midfield. An unfamiliar centre-back pairing of Esme Morgan and Lotte Wubben-Moy prevailed even as Spain dominated and peppered Hampton’s goal.

The Spanish dressing room must have been haunted by memories Zurich in July, when in unfathomable heat Hampton proved the heroine. Back then, England did not necessarily look like the best team in Europe but had the tenacity to see it out. They did so again.

Wiegman had urged fans beforehand to stick not only with her current players but with Earps too – urging supporters to applaud rather than jeer. She need not have worried. Both parties have moved on – and finally made peace.

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR