England's Hannah Hampton opens up on proving doubters wrong before Euros and hails Mary Earps' legacy

HANNAH HAMPTON was once told by doctors she could never pursue a football career due to eyesight depth perception concerns.
But the Chelsea goalkeeper, who has since proved them wrong, is set to play in a Euros for England next month.
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The Birmingham-born Lioness, 24, was 11 when medics told her that football as a profession was something she should not consider.
The Chelsea star has since overcome those hurdles to emerge as England's number one.
And her team targeting Euros glory in Switzerland this July.
Hampton said: "I've always gone through life trying to prove people wrong.
"I was told from a young age that I couldn't play football, that it wouldn't be a profession I could pursue
"The doctors told my parents that (and yet) I'm here right now."
Hampton was part of an England squad head coach Sarina Wiegman guided to a Euros tournament triumph on these shores in 2022.
The shot stopper was an unused substitute during the contest with her former team-mate Mary Earps then England's number one.
Since then the keeper, whose football journey began at five as a striker in Villarreal's academy, has enjoyed an impressive rise.
A summer 2023 Chelsea move from Aston Villa was followed by four domestic trophy wins, two of them WSL titles.
Last term Hampton started in all 22 of the Blues' top-flight matches as they went unbeaten in the WSL.
And she won the league's Golden Boot after keeping clean sheets in 13 of those games.
Hampton's England rise this past season included shutting out world champions Spain in a Nations League win in February.
But her progress has not been without its challenging moments.
Three months after their 2022 Euros win, she found herself in the media spotlight after being dropped from England's squad.
This followed speculation concerning her attitude.
Reflecting on this Hampton adds: "You can't let all the media scrutiny win.
"If you do that it just adds fuel to the fire and I wasn't willing to accept that.
"I wanted to show who I am as a person and show that wasn't always true.
"So I just thought: 'just dig in.' I did that and I'm sat here right now.
"I think I can say that I've proved people wrong."
On July 5 Hampton will play in a Euros match for the first time when England face France in a Group D opener in the Swiss city of Zurich.
The Lionesses will also take on 2017 champs Holland and debutants Wales for a place on the tournament's knockout stage
Unlike their last Euros run England will be without the services of Earps.
Last month the Paris Saint-Germain keeper left Lionesses followers stunned by retiring from the international game.
Her announcement followed Hampton's emergence as England's first-team regular.
This year the Chelsea player started in five of the Lionesses' last six Nations League games.
The Blues star, who reckons Earps decision should be respected, vowed to live up to her legacy.
Hampton said: "It's been difficult for everyone to come to terms with but we have to respect that.
"There's been quite a bit of scrutiny she doesn't deserve with everything that she's achieved in the game.
"Mary put women's goalkeeping on the map for the younger generation.
"Now l've got to live up to her legacy. I'll give it my best shot for sure."
On July 5 Hampton will play in the Women's Euros for the first time when England face France in a Group D clash in Zurich.
Clashes with 2017 champions the Netherlands and contest debutants Wales will follow on July 9 and 13 in Switzerland's largest city.
Wiegman's squad includes seven players competing in their first major tournament just as Hampton did three years ago.
They include strikers Aggie Beever-Jones, 22, and Michelle Agyemang, 19, playmaker Jess Park and defender Maya Le Tissier, both 23, and goalkeeper Khiara Keating.
Hampton said: "People don't know what to expect from some of the younger players coming through.
"Only we know what to expect, what their capabilities are. It's quite exciting.
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"They've got the adrenaline to get them through and they don't know what to expect of a major tournament yet.
"That was my case when I went to the Euros last time around."
'That adds to you getting through it for sure.

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