At this Women’s World Cup,she has kept three clean sheets in five games.The first two were against Haiti and Denmark in the group stage and then against Nigeria in the round of 16,a game that went to penalties after Earps had a number of close saves in regular time and stood up in the shootout.
But there is one player who has a history of putting balls past her – well,chipping them past and over her to be precise – and getting under her skin. A player that so consistently scores against her when others can’t that it feels fitting to call her Earps’ nemesis.
Enter,Sam Kerr.
Let’s go back to April when England and Australia last met in a friendly on a cold,rainy day at Brentford Community Stadium in west London. The Lionesses were on a 30-game winning streak and had never conceded a defeat under coach Sarina Wiegman. They had not had more than two goals scored against them in two years.
Kerr put an end to that. Thirty minutes into the opening half,centre-back Clare Hunt unloaded a long ball which England captain Leah Williamson headed awkwardly behind her. Earps ran out to collect it but Kerr beat her to it and chipped it over her knee. It floated into the net.
In the second half,Kerr found herself on a break on the right wing. She crossed the ball to defender Charli Grant making a late run,who headed it in to score her debut goal for the Matildas. Australia won 2-0.