Jordan Pickford lambasted live on air after what happened in England v Greece

Lee Dixon blasted Everton star Jordan Pickford after he nearly cost England a goal at Wembley against Greece with an error.

Pickford ventured out of his area after Greece had attacked but hesitated and took an extra touch, after which Levi Colwill had to make a superb goal-line clearance to keep out visiting skipper Anastasios Bakasetas.

The goalkeeper was immediately then beaten by West Ham United's Konstantinos Mavropanos for what appeared to be a goal, but was spared by the assistant referee's flag.

"I don't know if he made the right decision coming out of his goal in the first place but he took so long on the ball that he just got closed down. You don't need a touch," Dixon exclaimed live on ITV [10 October, 19:58].

Commentator Sam Matterface responded: "A brilliant clearance from Levi Colwill. Just what Jordan Pickford needed to preserve his clean sheet for now."

After the second error, Dixon added: "Absolutely [a let-off]. Again, another mistake from Pickford, and a look at the linesman to say 'thank you very much'."

"Mavropanos is offside, no doubt. But the decision to come, you have to take everything out - he took his own player out and missed the two blue shirts - a couple of warning signs for England here."

Everton star Jordan Pickford gets off the hook for England

Some have said down the years that Pickford's occasional errors have cost him a "big" move away from Everton, where he has been since 2017.

It is more the fact he is settled on Merseyside with his young family and his consistency of late has been far stronger - although the mistakes do occasionally rear themselves.

This has been far from the case for England, for whom he has very rarely put a foot wrong - the reason he secures his 71st senior cap at Wembley against Greece.

While his defence bailed him out on this occasion, Pickford can happily reflect on the times he has saved his nation - whether that be in open play or during penalty shoot-outs.

It does not usually take long before a crucial save overwrites the memory of any lapse or mistake, which is why Pickford is consistently a number one everywhere he goes, and a great leader.

In other Everton news, Dan Friedkin is expected to back Sean Dyche in January.

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