- Pickford makes several top saves during England’s narrow loss to Japan.
- Patterson plays for Scotland as Hill Dickinson Stadium hosts its first international.
- Garner impresses again for England following debut against Uruguay on Friday.
It was a busy night for Everton’s international contingent, and also for the club itself.
Here’s how the player and the Hill Dickinson fared, as some played meaningless friendlies and others prepped for this summer’s World Cup…
Headlines: England vs. Japan
A bittersweet evening for Everton’s England players. Jordan Pickford earned his 82nd cap and produced a string of trademark saves, but he was left helpless when the visitors snatched the only goal of the game midway through the opening half.
It was another good night, though, for James Garner, who, following an impressive debut against Uruguay on Friday, produced another equally impressive second-half cameo. After, recently, being praised by David Moyes and signing a contract extension that takes him to 2030, he’s being recognised for playing the best football of his carreer.
Last night, he came off the bench in the 65th minute and again displayed his fine range of passing and composure on the ball. He’s put himself in with a chance of a place in Thomas Tuchel’s World Cup squad.
Home turf at the Hill Dickinson
Nathan Patterson has had limited game time in David Moyes’ team this season, but was able to get some minutes under his belt, as the Hill Dickinson hosted Scotland vs the Ivory Coast.
Despite the Scots losing 1-0, Patterson, who replaced right-wing-back Ross McCrorie on the hour mark, clearly relished the chance to get game time on familiar territory and on the international stage.
It was a typically energetic half hour from Patterson, but Scotland fell to a narrow 1–0 defeat. Despite the defeat, it still was a historic night for the new stadium, one that Steve Clarke described as a “fantastic addition” to the city.
Around the globe…
Everton’s Republic of Ireland trio – Seamus Coleman, Mark Travers, and Jake O’Brien – all featured in their country’s friendly against North Macedonia.
- O’Brien continued his impressive form this season with a solid late cameo.
- Coleman, as ever, showed his experience in another second-half cameo.
- Travers came on in goal in the second half, maintaining a clean sheet in a drab 0-0 draw.
In Valencia, Vitalii Mykolenko played the full 90 in Ukraine’s 1-0 friendly win over Albania – a dead rubber as both teams lost their respective World Cup Play-off semi-finals last week. Also, keeper Tom King was an unused substitute for Wales in their own dead rubber against Northern Ireland in Cardiff, which ended 1-1.
The youth…
Some young Toffees also had good nights:
- Tyler Dibling and Tyrique George both featured for England U21s comfortable 4-1 win over Moldova at Carrow Road, Norwich.
- Harrison Armstrong was part of the England U19s team that thrashed Portugal 6-0.
Overall, while results were mixed, Moyes’ international Blues will return to Merseyside with useful minutes under their belts and, hopefully, a clean bill of health.
