England head coach Sarina Wiegman has responded to Mary Earps' comments that she let the Lionesses "down" in a dramatic win over the Netherlands.
Article continues below
Article continues below
Article continues below
Earps said she "let down" England on FridayGoalkeeper made error in 3-2 win over NetherlandsWiegman showed support for EarpsWHAT HAPPENED?
Earps made a costly error in England's clash with the Dutch at Wembley on Friday, allowing the visitors to take a 2-0 lead in a game that the Lionesses absolutely had to win to keep their UEFA Women's Nations League campaign alive. Goals from Georgia Stanway, Lauren Hemp and Ella Toone meant the European champions completed an incredible second half comeback but their chances of progressing to the finals of the competition are not straight-forward after a victory by just a one-goal margin.
AdvertisementGetty ImagesWHAT WAS SAID?
Speaking to ITV after the game, Earps said: "I'm sorry my performance cost the girls like that. That will haunt me for a long time. I've really let the team down today. I'm really gutted."
However, Wiegman dismissed those comments in her press conference, telling reporters: "I don’t want her to talk like that, because you win as a team and lose as a team. She didn’t let the team down. Everyone does their best. You only let your team down when you don’t put effort in."
THE BIGGER PICTURE
England's 3-2 win means their hopes of making the Nations League finals are still alive – just. It is likely that the Lionesses will need to beat Scotland heavily on Tuesday in their final group stage match in order to progress to the next round, which would keep the chances of Great Britain being able to send a women's team to next summer's Olympics alive, too. The permutations are extensive, though, with Belgium playing the Netherlands at the same time.
Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT FOR EARPS AND ENGLAND?
England face Scotland at Hampden Park in Glasgow on Tuesday night. Their neighbours were relegated from League A in the Nations League on Friday evening, after drawing with Belgium.