Who is Hannah Hampton? The England goalkeeper said about doctors

Hannah Hampton puffs up her cheeks when she looks at the strength of what came before. Mary Earps lets big gloves fill; The English goalkeeper, who not only won the euro and became the best of the world twice, but also changed the goalkeeper and inspired a generation. “I just have to fulfill your legacy,” says Hampton.

The lion women have a new No. 1. Hampon will be England’s start goalkeeper at Euro 2025 and would be even if Earps had done Sarina Wiegmans squad. Earps’ shock decision to retire before the tournament will of course increase Hampton’s spotlight when England plays France in the opening game of her euro defense. If the goalkeeper always attracts attention and is nowhere to be hidden, the noise around Earps’ retirement only contributes to the exam.

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But Hampton also won her place. At the age of 24, she had an extremely successful club season with Chelsea, where she played triple domestic campaign almost every minute of her unbeaten, triple domestic campaign. When Sonia Bombastor arrived in Chelsea, he made Hampton a decision that Wiegman also made in April when she told her goalkeeper her roles for the euro. It was only the decision of Earps to terminate with 32, that was the surprise, not the confirmation that Hampton would replace it between the posts.

Remove a few years back, and even Hampton admits that this would have been an unexpected result. Hampon was part of the English squad at the last euro, but after Wiegman’s tournament was dropped in the middle of reports on her behavior and her attitude in the camp. At the age of 21, Hampton was also left out by her Club Aston Villa, while the negative headlines and stories brought them in circulation to stop completely. She didn’t do it and put her head down instead.

It was not the first time that Hampton had found motivation by false people. She was born with a description and as a child there was several correction proceedings in her eyes. Doctors told her that she couldn’t play football and then told her parents that she would not be able to become a professional. Hampton still has no deep perception, but has still made it to the highest level of the game. “I was sitting here,” says Hampton. “I think I can say that I have proven people to be wrong.”

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Hampton is a modern goalkeeper, and both Wiegman and a bombastor were impressed by their skills on the ball to build from behind, as well as from their shooting stop. An upbringing in Spain, in which Hampton lived from five years to shortly before her 11th birthday, maybe helped lay the foundations of a varied game. She played as a striker at the Villarreal’s Academy and remained an outfield when her family returned to England.

The decision to turn to the goalkeeper was, as it is often, more random, in a time of need and discovery of a natural talent. It would only be cool until Earps was promoted from self-fighting to Lionesses Star and England fan favorites that the goalkeeper became cool: With Lionesses Games, it can often look as if there are as many children who wear English goalkeepers as the standard outside of home kit. Many of them also have the name of Earps on the back.

Even if Hampton takes over now, it is a permanent sign of what Earps has achieved and it thanks how it increased the bar for her profession. “I think there was a lot checked that she probably does not deserve with everything she achieved in the game, and the goal hats of women put on the menu so that the younger generation can inspire to be a goalkeeper now,” says Hampton. “It was never really one thing, and Mary changed it. There are so many other young boys and girls who took part in goalkeeper, which was never the case when I grew up.”

Their effect is undeniable, but Earps was still accused of standing over her country in some quarters: a violation of Hampton or an unexpected suspension would either leave the lionesses with the unkempt Khiara Keating or Anna Moorhouse in goal during the euro. It also deprives England in the squad of an influential character at a time when the defending champions do not have an important leader in the Vice-Captain Millie Bright Having the tournament when she fights mental and physical burnout.

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However, Hampton can offer nothing but praise. She sent Earps a message to congratulate her on an “incredible” international career and added that she did not expect to receive consideration. “I think that’s all I can really do,” she twitches. Beth Mead, who sits next to Hampton during the English media day in England in St. George’s Park, confirms that she will have the support of the squad. “Ultimately, Hannah has to play every game after another and enjoy her football,” says Mead. “It is there for a certain reason.”

And if the comparisons with Earps are inevitable, Hampton is more aware of the role she has to play now and the way to follow. “We will miss them here as a person,” says Hampton. “She is a great personality in this team and she glued to all of us when we had to be. I think it was difficult for everyone to find their decision, but we have to respect that.”

Hampton takes a break. “And yes, now I just have to keep your legacy. I will certainly give it my best shot.”