Journalist shares big change in Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford ahead of World Cup showdown
England manager Gareth Southgate has “unswerving faith” in Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford, as suggested by Andy Dunn.
England will face France in the quarter-finals of the World Cup on Saturday 10 December, and Pickford is certain to start, which will be his 50th appearance for his country.
The Daily Mirror journalist (10 December, page 66), has suggested that the stopper has found a “level of inner calm” which was not there in the early part of his career.
“But if aside from Harry Kane perhaps, there is one player in whom the England manager has unswerving faith, it is Jordan Pickford,” wrote Dunn.
“Against France in the Al Bayt Stadium, Pickford will win his 50th cap and England’s World Cup future will be in his hands.
“Pickford could well have another decade of top-class football and there is no reason why he will not end up above Joe Hart and David Seaman – who both won 75 caps – and in second place in the list of England keepers with the most appearances (Peter Shilton was capped 125 times and won his last one at the age of 40).
“He has certainly found a level of inner calm that was not there earlier in his career.”
Consistency
Pickford is one of the two players, the other one being Bukayo Saka, in the starting line-up who has not experienced Champions League football.
Saka is only 21, and he is likely to play in the Champions League next season if Arsenal maintain their impressive form for the rest of the season.
Southgate has kept immense faith in Pickford who has never let the team down.
In the last 15 months or so, Pickford has emerged as a symbol of consistency for both club and country and deserves to be the first choice for his country.
Against Senegal, Pickford made a couple of great saves to keep England in the game as they won 3-0. It is a trait of a great goalkeeper to come up with big saves when it really matters, and Pickford has done that.
Against France, Pickford will come under challenge from the likes of Kylian Mbappe and Antoine Griezmann, and he needs to be on top of his game in this massive clash on Saturday.