Nottingham-born Mary Earps will be looking to guide England to European Championship success as the Lionesses face Germany in the final at Wembley this afternoon (5pm kick-off).
The 29-year-old who has become an integral part of the squad, came a long way after being dropped by previous manager Phil Neville. She admitted that at the time, the decision made her question whether it was the end of her international career.
"I was very much sort of thinking 'yeah, this is probably internationally the end of the road for me. I was quite open and honest about that," she said at the time. But Earps' international career was later reignited following the arrival of Sarina Weigman who took over from Neville last year.
Speaking to LionessesLive, she said: "It’s been a crazy, crazy year! I’ve spoken about it a little bit, but I didn’t anticipate ever being in an England shirt again so I try to make the most of every single day in camp.
"I’m so grateful for the ups and downs that I’ve had and the journey that I’ve been on because I think it’s made me a stronger person and a stronger player. "I’m even more grateful for every single time I get to kick a ball wearing the shirt."
Who does Mary Earps play for?
Earps plays as a goalkeeper for Manchester United in the Women's Super League, following her switch for VfL Wolfsburg in 2019.
Her previous clubs include Nottingham Forest, Doncaster Rovers Belles, Birmingham City, Bristol Academy and Reading.
When did Mary Earps make her England debut?
The 29-year-old progressed through the ranks at international level. She earned her first England cap as a youngster for the under-17s, before playing for the under-19s and under-23s teams.
