Two big saves, a nervy drop, solid distribution and a clean sheet. Hannah Hampton’s stock continues to rise after the Chelsea goalkeeper was given the nod to help England to secure a place at Euro 2025 with a 0-0 draw against Sweden.

Sarina Wiegman’s decision to start Hampton ahead of Mary Earps for England’s penultimate qualifier on Friday raised few eyebrows. It was just one of several changes made for the game against the Republic of Ireland before the trickier trip to Sweden.

Her inclusion in the starting XI in Gothenburg, though, was far more surprising and perhaps marks a changing of the guard at the base of England’s spine.

“The competition is on. It’s really on,” Wiegman said after England had secured their place in Switzerland. “They’re both incredible, talented goalkeepers that we’re really happy with, and of course with the others too.”

Since Wiegman took charge, in September 2021, Earps has been ever-present between the sticks, making the most of injuries to Karen Bardsley and Ellie Roebuck.

Earps’s performances at the 2022 European Championship and the 2023 World Cup helped her to secure back-to-back awards for Fifa best goalkeeper of the year. She is also hugely popular, her public despair at her goalkeeper shirt not being available for the public to buy and her foul-mouthed heat‑of‑the‑moment outbursts have endeared her to fans up and down the country.

Sticking the decorated goalkeeper on the bench in favour of Hampton then is a bold move and a huge vote of confidence in the young Chelsea keeper. “She’s done well, and we kept her in the lineup,” Wiegman said when asked before kick‑off about her inclusion. That brief reply gave little away about Wiegman’s short‑term intentions, but it is clear Hampton is on Earps’s tail and accelerating at pace.

Wiegman described Earps as “very professional” in her approach to the news she wasn’t playing. “For February, we split the games, so Hannah played a game and Mary played a game, and we did that in April too, and in the June‑May window against France unfortunately Mary got injured. In that period, we said there is more competition going on between the two, and of course we have Khiara [Keating] and Anna Moorhouse in the squad and they’re doing well too.”

Hampton’s talent has never been questioned but having been dropped by Wiegman after England’s victorious Euros campaign and by Aston Villa early in the 2022-23 season, with Wiegman citing “some personal issues that she has to solve” as the reason, Hampton’s turnaround into a trusted and regular starter has been remarkable.

In from the cold, Hampton has started four of the reigning European champions’ six Group A3 games in qualifying, as well as coming on early on against France in Newcastle after Earps sustained a hip injury in the opening few minutes of the match.

Against Sweden in Gothenburg there were glimpses of how good she can be, a smart save in the 49th minute with Millie Bright shifting out of her line of sight late on and a big stop of Filippa Angeldal with seven minutes remaining were critical at helping England to secure a fourth clean sheet in the 15 games since the Women’s World Cup final Sydney last year.

There were also signs of a player still developing, the 23‑year‑old fumbling twice in four minutes late on but avoiding punishment.

The signs for England are good, a move to Chelsea from Aston Villa last season, with the seasoned and decorated wing of Emma Hayes around her, has helped her to find her way.

Hayes thinks there is no ceiling. “I say this as the future USA coach: England are so lucky … I genuinely believe [she] has all the ability to become the best in the world.”

The best in the world and the future best in the world battling out for the No 1 spot? It is perhaps the most exciting position to keep an eye on in this England team.

The qualifying group of death was never going to be easy and England made it a lot harder for themselves, a draw against Sweden and Wembley and defeat against France in Newcastle ensuring results would be needed away to avoid playoffs and secure a place at the Euro 2025 finals in Switzerland. Trusting Hampton ahead of Earps, at the most critical of moments, is a big statement.