London, May 27 (Reporter) England goalkeeper Mary Earps has announced her shock retirement from international football - just five weeks before the Lionesses begin their European Championship defence in Switzerland. The 32-year-old played a significant role in the Lionesses winning Euro 2022 but had recently lost her starting place to Chelsea keeper Hannah Hampton. Earps made 53 senior appearances over eight years for England, also winning the 2023 Women's Finalissima with her country before helping them reaching the final of the 2023 Women's World Cup, the BBC reported. "I had hoped that Mary Earps would play an important role within the squad this summer, so of course I am disappointed," England manager Sarina Wiegman said. Earps said, "This is the right time for me to step aside and give the younger generation an opportunity to thrive. "Winning the Euros in 2022 was the best day of my life, and I'm rooting for the girls to do it again this summer." Earps - who left Manchester United to join French side Paris St-Germain last summer - also wrote on social media: "It has been the greatest honour and privilege of my life, to wear this badge and represent my country. "I wish I could do it forever, but sadly all good things must come to an end." Earps was voted BBC Sports Personality of the Year in 2023, having won the Golden Glove for the best goalkeeper at the 2023 World Cup - held in Australia and New Zealand. She also won the Best FIFA Goalkeeper award in 2022 and 2023. "My journey has never been the simplest, so in true Mary fashion, this isn't a simple goodbye - right before a major tournament," she said. "Nonetheless, I know this is the right decision. There are so many dimensions to this decision, the details of which aren't important right now. "This is a new era and a new England team, and I'm looking forward to watching them this summer. "I know that while this won't make sense to some who are reading this, you can trust that I would not be doing this unless I thought it was absolutely the right thing to do, as much as it hurts." On several occasions, Earps has called for change in women's football. She challenged Nike in 2023 after the kit supplier failed to produce any replica England goalkeeper shirts ahead of that year's World Cup, an incident she described as "hugely hurtful." In confirming the end of her England career, she said: "I have given everything, my heart and soul. I left it all out there on the pitch and did my best to help systemic change of it. I have no regrets...////...