Apparently goalkeepers aren’t important, but how England needed theirs here. It was hardly the most encouraging sign for the Lionesses as they began their Women’s World Cup with a nervy, narrow victory over Haiti, but with questions remaining over several key positions there is certainly no doubt over the quality and value of England’s No 1.
Georgia Stanway may have scored the only goal in this unconvincing opening win, but Mary Earps was England’s match-winner. The Manchester United goalkeeper’s left foot denied Haiti’s Roseline Eloissaint, in what was one of several dangerous moments the Lionesses had to survive to get their World Cup off to a winning start.
