Everton keeper Jordan Pickford at fault for France goal vs England – Ben Foster
Ben Foster claims that “most Premier League goalies” would have saved Aurelien Tchouameni’s goal that Everton keeper Jordan Pickford conceded for England.
The Three Lions were knocked out of the World Cup 2-1 by the reigning champions on Saturday (10 December), with the Real Madrid midfielder firing low into the bottom corner from outside the box in the first half.
And recently retired Foster believes that the Toffees leader should have done better with an attempt that he believes wasn’t perfectly placed or hit.
Speaking on his TikTok channel the former England keeper said: “[Jude] Bellingham’s about 25 yards away from the goal. It goes through his legs. That does not put Jordan Pickford off whatsoever.
“What I think has happened though is he’s just got a little bit slow at moving his feet. And I don’t think he’s underestimated that the ball is going to be curling that quickly.
“But as a goalkeeper at that level, again at that level, you have to almost overcompensate for that. You almost have to dive past the ball.
“I think most Premier League goalies make that save, I really do.
“I don’t think it was rifled and I don’t think it was right in the corner.”
Harsh
Pickford won’t be happy to have conceded the goal no matter how hard the save is adjudged to be, and whenever a long-range shot goes anywhere but the top corner the keeper is questioned.
But it would be harsh to park blame at the Toffees man’s door for the defeat in Qatar even if he is disappointed with that strike.
He kept more than one dangerous attempt out after the break, to keep England in it at a time when they were turning the game to their advantage.
If Gareth Southgate stays on as manager the quarter-final was certainly no cause for him to lose faith in his long-term number one, after a tournament were the 28-year-old was largely praised.
But with the 52-year-old considering his position a replacement boss may be one of the many who endlessly call for whoever is next in line, currently Arsenal’s Aaron Ramsdale to displace Pickford.
A heartbreaking night all round, capped off by the unlikely penalty miss from Harry Kane, will leave plenty of what-ifs in the minds of the players, but overall it won’t come down to Pickford conceding the Tchouameni goal.