Mary Earps and Millie Bright took to social media to share their congratulations after England retained their European Championship crown on Sunday.
Following a nail-biting final that saw the defending champions battle back from the brink after Spain took an early lead, Chloe Kelly netted the decisive penalty to secure the Lionesses’ second Euros title.
The triumph marked the culmination of a difficult campaign for Sarina Wiegman’s side that saw them repeatedly come from behind before clinching victory.
In a post on Instagram following the win former Manchester United goalkeeper Earps wrote: ‘Wow wow wow incredible.’
Meanwhile Chelsea captain Bright hailed the team’s success: ‘Proud to be English. Well done team.’
England’s victory was made all the more impressive as they were without the pair, who have been so instrumental to the team’s success at international level.
Mary Earps and Millie Bright hailed the Lionesses after they retained their European Championship title
The pair congratulated the team on their success with posts on social media on Sunday night
Earps and Bright have been integral for England and were expected to be part of Sarina Wiegman’s squad for the tournament
Earps had been England’s No 1 for both the 2021 Euros win and the team’s run to the final of the 2023 World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.
However, Sarina Wiegman opted for Chelsea’s Hannah Hampton as her preferred choice between the sticks in the lead-up to the this summer’s tournament.
As a result, Earps announced her retirement from international football just five weeks before the tournament was set to get underway, prompting a backlash on social media.
The 32-year-old later claimed that she felt she had been ‘villainized’ for electing to step away when she did.
‘I think I was villainized in a way, it was a bit hard to see and read things,’ Earps said on Fearne Cotton’s Happy Place podcast.
‘It’s more what my friends and family see and then the way they interact with me. I’m like, “Oh, I know you’ve seen something”, and I’m upset for them because I’m like, “You didn’t choose this. You’ve now got to deal with this.”
‘I’m then gutted for them and I don’t really want to know what’s being said, but it’s coming out in comments. I feel like that’s hard.’
Earps decision to retire reportedly surprised her England team-mates and angered head coach Wiegman.
Earps announced her retirement from international football just weeks before the tournament
The 32-year-old stepped away with Wiegman preferring Hannah Hampton as her No 1
In public, Wiegman admitted she had been left ‘disappointed’ by Earps decision.
Bright meanwhile declared herself eligible for selection prior to the tournament after revealing that she did not feel like she was at her best ‘mentally or physically’.
‘This is one of the hardest decisions I’ve ever had to make, but after careful thought and discussions with my team, I have decided to withdraw from selection for the England squad ahead of Euro 2025.’ Bright wrote on Instagram last month.
‘Football has given me so much, and representing my country has always been my greatest honour.
‘My pride and ego tells me to go, but I think the team and the fans deserve more.
‘Right now I’m not able to give 100% mentally or physically.
‘As much as I want to be out there running through back walls for England and fighting alongside my team-mates, stepping back is the right timing for my health, my future in the game, and most importantly the team.
‘It wouldn’t be fair for me to take the place and opportunity away from another player who is ready and able to give everything for the badge and country.
Chelsea captain Bright declared herself eligible for selection prior to the tournament
Bright’s (right) split from her long-time partner Levi Crew (left) may have been one factor behind her decision
‘I’ll be supporting the team with everything I’ve got, and hoping this incredible group of players will do the nation proud.
‘Thank you to my team-mates, coaches, and, most importantly, the fans for your unwavering support.
‘It means the world to me.’
It later emerged that Bright’s split from her longtime partner, fitness trainer Levi Crew, may have influenced her decision to declare herself ineligible.
Bright and Crew shared a home in Surrey and their families were close. She referred to him as her ‘king’ who is with her ‘through thick and thin’ and has a tattoo of his eye on her arm which has been shown prominently in official squad photos.
