Everton: Jordan Pickford at heart of Gareth Southgate ‘dilemma’ ahead of England v Italy
Jordan Pickford is at the heart of a “dilemma” for Gareth Southgate as the England boss ponders over whether to start the Everton star against Italy, according to INews.
The Three Lions are set to kickstart their European Championship campaign in Naples on Thursday (23 March) as, once again, their quest to end their wait for a trophy begins.
Inews claim (22 March) Declan Rice, John Stones, Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane are all “certain starters” ahead of the match against the Azzurri.
However, they’ve also suggested Southgate’s “biggest dilemma” could come in goal, with Aaron Ramsdale the number one goalkeeper for the Premier League’s best team at present.
Everpresent
We would add Pickford to the “certain starters” list. The 29-year-old’s performances for England have been exceptional and he’s always been Southgate’s number one. It would be a massive shock to see the Everton goalkeeper removed from the starting eleven.
This is a big game for the Three Lions. Naples is a hostile place to travel to and Italy will be looking to bounce back after missing out on the World Cup. Irrespective of their absence in Qatar, Roberto Mancini’s side are a dangerous opponent and will be a stern test for Southgate’s men.
However, with the top two teams from each group qualifying, England should book their place in Germany. This feels like the last chance saloon for Southgate. Failure to win the Euros in 2024 will almost certainly see his time as the national team boss come to an end.
He has a golden generation at his disposal, it’s time he finally delivered some sort of silverware.