Mary Earps unhappy with mistake despite England's thrilling comeback win - 'I've really let the team down'

England goalkeeper Mary Earps said she was "gutted" and "let the team down" despite their thrilling 3-2 UEFA Nations League win over the Netherlands at Wembley on Friday.

The Lionesses found themselves 2-0 down inside the opening 35 minutes after Dutch forward Lineth Beerensteyn grabbed both goals.

Earps, who was the stand-in captain after Millie Bright was ruled out through injury, was unable to keep out the second goal as the shot squirmed through her hands.

However, England produced a stunning second-half comeback with Georgia Stanway and Lauren Hemp levelling the scores with two goals in two minutes.

Earps' Manchester United team-mate Ella Toone grabbed a stoppage-time winner but the goalkeeper was still visibly disappointed by her performance.

"I'm just sorry that my performance has cost the team tonight," she told ITV Sport after the game.

"That will haunt me for a long time. I really let the team down today. And I'm really gutted, really, really gutted. It could have been a special night at Wembley.

"The team were unbelievable. Don't get me [wrong]. The girls were unbelievable, the way they played it around and showed great patience at times with a real tenacity and intensity to their play. The girls were phenomenal."

England manager Sarina Wiegman defended her goalkeeper following the victory and said mistakes are just part of the game.

"I spoke to her very shortly and I don't want her to talk like that," she said in her post-match press conference. "We win as a team and we lose as a team and everybody makes mistakes.

"That is part of the game, of course she didn't let the team down. Everyone gives everything, you only let your team down when you don't put any effort in the game. And we didn't do that."

England team-mate Beth Mead also said Earps doesn't deserve to be criticised for her display.

"Plenty of us have already done that [made a mistake]," she told Sky Sports. "Mary has been a vital part of this team being successful.

"It happens, unfortunately, being a goalkeeper. It's unlucky it's a goal. Whatever people are saying, we don't care.

"We back Mary 100%. She's an incredible team-mate and person, and she deserves every success that she's had."

The result means that England go into Tuesday's Nations League game against Scotland knowing that qualification is out of their hands.

England will progress into the semi-finals if they beat Scotland and the Netherlands drop points in their final match against Belgium.

However, even if the Netherlands come away with a home win against Belgium, the Lionesses could still go through if they beat Scotland by a huge margin to leapfrog the Dutch on goal difference.

The two Nations League finalists will secure a place at the 2024 Paris Olympics but if France reach the final, the winner of the third-place playoff will qualify.

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