Everton star Jordan Pickford hit with harshest England criticism yet, and it's simply not true

Everton fans know all too well that Jordan Pickford is no stranger to the doubters.

But you won't find many among the passionate Toffees fanbase who doubt the quality of their long-term number one.

The 32-year-old is closing in on a decade of service at Everton, having joined from Sunderland in June 2017, and he has been an excellent servant.

Last season, Pickford kept 11 clean sheets, had a prevented goals rate of 2.7, and made exactly 100 saves in the Premier League.

It was an absolute no-brainer that he would be England's first choice at the World Cup, and he started as the Three Lions began their campaign with a 4-2 win over Croatia in Dallas on Wednesday.

But, despite 85 caps and reaching two European Championship finals with the Three Lions, it seems there are still those who want to cast doubt on his credentials.

France World Cup winner offers ridiculous Jordan Pickford assessment

Emmanuel Petit is a World Cup with France way back in 1998, so his words obviously carry weight.

But his criticism of Pickford's role in Croatia's first goal, where he got a hand to Martin Baturina's rocket, was pretty unwarranted.

To then double down and suggest he is not the calibre of goalkeeper you can win a World Cup with also feels needlessly harsh.

Speaking on talkSPORT, Petit said: "I was not really impressed by Pickford. I think he should have done better on the first goal, definitely.

"He made some saves, but I don’t know, I don’t feel it. If you want to go until the end, you need to have one of the strongest goalkeepers in the competition.

"And that’s my opinion. You may disagree with me, but I’m not really confident with him. The first game, in terms of emotion, it’s always very difficult to cope with that.

"But again, with the ball at his feet, especially on the line, sometimes when he goes for a free kick or corner, I always have the feeling that something could happen."

Where does Jordan Pickford rank among most capped England players?

Petit's criticism is just completely unwarranted, and another example of pundits just not truly appreciating how accomplished of a goalkeeper he is.

Moreover, you simply do not rack up as many appearances for your country as Pickford has if you are not at the requisite level to play for England.

There are currently only 16 players who have amounted more than his 85 caps, and the likes of Kenny Sansom (86), Michael Owen (89), John Stones (active, 90), Jordan Henderson active, 90), and Bryan Robson (90) are in his immediate sights.

He still has some way to go to catch the likes of Peter Shilton (125), Wayne Rooney (120), David Beckham (115), and current captain Harry Kane (115).

But you sense there will be plenty more caps to come before he calls it a day, some more respect should be put on his name.