Paul Merson blasts Everton star Jordan Pickford for not saving France’s opening goal v England at World Cup
Paul Merson has blasted Everton star Jordan Pickford for conceding to Aurelien Tchouameni in the World Cup quarter-final as England crashed out.
The Toffees stopper kept three clean sheets in his five appearances at the World Cup for the Three Lions, shutting out the USA, Wales and Senegal before the clash with France.
But he conceded a long-range strike from the Real Madrid midfielder in the first half that helped France knock England out, and Sky Sports pundit Merson told Skysports.com (13 December) that he “doesn’t know a goalkeeper who doesn’t save” the shot.
“I don’t know a goalkeeper who doesn’t save France’s first goal,” he said.
“Why Jordan Pickford was on his goal line when the ball was 25, 30 yards out I do not know.
“If Pickford was on the edge of his six-yard box, he probably catches Aurelien Tchouameni’s shot.”
Harsh
Merson has never been one to pull his punches when it comes to criticising players, but this one is crazy harsh from someone who has played football at the highest level too.
Pickford was quite clearly unsighted by the strike and while he was on his goal-line for the strike when he maybe shouldn’t have been, but he was so close to the shot even still.
Had he stood several yards further forward, he would have had even less time to react to the strike and it would probably still have gone in, so to put that on him is horrible.
Pickford had a great tournament for England, made huge saves in games that they won that have been overlooked because of the end result and is now being called out for the one minor error he made.
That’s the margins when it comes to top level football and now we need him to return to Goodison Park in that same form, because he’s likely to be the difference between a relegation battle and pushing up the table for Everton.