England’s Hannah Hampton has hailed the quality of goalkeeping on show across the board at this summer’s UEFA Women’s EURO.
The Lionesses won a first major title with a 2-1 extra-time victory over Germany at Wembley yesterday. England were helped by another commanding goalkeeping performance by first-choice keeper Mary Earps.
Across the 31 games at this summer’s tournament, there have been very few mistakes been made by goalkeepers and England’s Hampton believes that perceptions of goalkeeping in the women’s game are being changed.
Commenting on whether perceptions of goalkeepers are changing when quizzed after lifting the UEFA Women’s EURO 2022 trophy, Hampton said “Absolutely, it’s not just Mary (Earps). If you look at this tournament, you’ve got Daphne van Domselaar from the Netherlands and Pauline Peyraud-Magnin…oh my days!
“It’s just showing how much the quality has changed in women’s football, especially the goalkeeping and I’m just happy to be a part of that. We can definitely show them what women are made of now in goal. We’ve come a long way for that to happen.”
As she has done all tournament, Hampton watched yesterday’s game from the sidelines. She went on to explain the feeling of watching the drama unfold from the bench.
She said “It was horrible, absolutely horrible. I think I experienced every emotion possible and I do not want to experience it again. If we could make the next time we win much easier, it’d be greatly appreciated.”
Hampton was cruelly denied the opportunity to represent Team GB at the Olympic Games last summer after missing out on final selection. The Sarina Wiegman era has brought better fortune for the Aston Villa number one who is now celebrating collecting a first major tournament medal with the Lionesses.