Four Everton players went to the World Cup this summer. Only three of them are currently expected back at Finch Farm.
Jordan Pickford (England)
Pickford’s was the longest campaign of the four. He started every match for England, including the semi-final defeat to Argentina, before Thomas Tuchel gave Dean Henderson the nod for the third-place match instead.
England won that game 6-4 against France in Miami — Bukayo Saka scoring a hat-trick — for the nation’s best finish since 1966. Pickford watched the win from the bench, and Everton posted a message afterwards thanking him for the summer.
Nathan Patterson (Scotland)
Patterson didn’t feature as Scotland beat Haiti for their first World Cup win in 36 years, but an injury to Aaron Hickey pushed him into the side for the remaining two group games.
He played 88 minutes in a 1-0 loss to Morocco, then the full 90 as Brazil won 3-0, on the pitch for Vinícius Júnior’s opener. Scotland finished third in Group C and missed the knockout stage; Steve Clarke resigned as manager shortly after.
Iliman Ndiaye (Senegal)
Ndiaye scored in the 5-0 win over Iraq that carried Senegal out of the group, then was a persistent threat down the right in the round of 32 against Belgium — Senegal led 2-0 with 15 minutes left before Romelu Lukaku and Youri Tielemans pulled Belgium level, Tielemans winning it from the spot deep into extra time.
A strong individual tournament for Ndiaye, even if it ended in one of the World Cup’s more painful collapses.
Idrissa Gueye (Senegal) — no longer an Everton player
Gueye captained Senegal through the same run as Ndiaye, coming off after an hour of the Belgium defeat and calling the result “destiny” afterwards.
But his Everton contract expired on 30 June, mid-tournament, and he’s currently a free agent. Talks over an extension have stalled, and reporting since has pointed to interest from Saudi Pro League clubs rather than a return to Merseyside. Gueye’s last act in an Everton shirt may already have happened without anyone realising it at the time.
Bigger picture
Between them, Everton’s World Cup contingent went out at three different stages — group stage, round of 32, and the third-place match — and one of the four may not be back in Everton colours at all.
None of Pickford, Patterson or Ndiaye featured in Saturday’s 4-0 pre-season win over Dundee, with all three currently on standard post-tournament rest. Gueye’s situation is the one worth watching most closely as the transfer window rolls on.
