Jordan Pickford to get chance to settle score, Everton star should get start in England clash v Italy
Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford could be handed a chance to settle a score against Italy when they host England in a Euro 2024 qualifier on Thursday (23 March).
The Three Lions will take on Roberto Mancini’s men at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona in their opening match of Group C, a fixture that sees the two favourites to progress to the finals next year go head to head.
And Everton number one Pickford will be desperate to land a number one position under Gareth Southgate, with the Toffees shot-stopper in between the sticks when Italy defeated England to win the last Euros in 2021.
Pickford did, however, miss out on a place in the starting XI in the two most recent encounters against the Italians, with Aaron Ramsdale and Nick Pope playing in last year’s Nations League matches. The Toffees man watched on from the bench in the first game and missed the second due to a thigh injury.
The three goalkeepers were once again expected to battle it out for a starting spot in the match against Italy and indeed the meeting with Ukraine on Sunday (26 March), but Newcastle number one Nick Pope has recently withdrawn from the squad due to injury.
Tottenham goalkeeper Fraser Forster has been called up in Pope’s absence, but it will be the presence of Ramsdale that is the most potent threat to Pickford’s chances of starting.
Pickford, who according to Football Insider is earning £100,000-a-week at Everton, has been very reliable for his nation over the years.
He has produced several world-class saves in the various major tournaments that he has played in, which include two World Cups and Euro 2020.
The Toffees goalkeeper was handed his international debut in 2017, and recently made his 50th cap for his country in the 2022 World Cup quarter-final defeat to France.
But his place in the starting XI has come under threat in recent times, not because of Everton’s struggles, but because of the impressive displays from Pickford’s counterparts Ramsdale and Pope.
Somewhat worryingly for Pickford, the Arsenal and Newcastle number ones sit joint-top of the clean sheets leaderboard for the current Premier League season, both on 12.
Pickford meanwhile has just six, a number that has, of course, been out of his control for the most part, but still one that he will want to improve upon before the season draws to a close.
The Everton goalkeeper can, however, argue that he has been much busier in the box than Ramsdale this season, with Arsenal looking comfortable in defence, in stark contrast to Everton’s struggles.