- Jordan Pickford has been England’s starting goalkeeper since 2018.
- He is 15 caps away from reaching 100 for his nation.
- The 32-year-old continues to be one of England’s most important players.
England kick-started their FIFA World Cup campaign with an impressive 4-2 victory over Croatia.
The Three Lions have had a mixed record against the Croatians in the modern era, but last night’s win was a statement of intent from Thomas Tuchel’s side.
A major talking point heading into the World Cup was how England would cope with their transition from Sir Gareth Southgate to Tuchel.
There is no doubt that the German has shaken things up for the better, yet there are some features that remain, including Everton’s star goalkeeper, Jordan Pickford.
He was one of three men in yesterday’s starting XI who also started in England’s 2-1 World Cup semi-final defeat in 2018, a testament to his longevity at the top.
No one has come close to Pickford’s no.1 shirt, and last night spotlighted why he is so important for the Three Lions.
Jordan Pickford is a foundation for England’s attack
It was by no means a perfect performance from England, and Pickford would likely agree with this, as Croatia still managed to bag two goals.
Their first was thanks to a thunderous shot by Martin Baturina, and the second came from a beautifully worked move on the stroke of half-time, which Petar Musa delicately finished.
Both finishes left the English keeper pretty vulnerable, so there was little he could do on his part, but he was still able to show his skills in between the sticks, as he was forced to make some straightforward yet crucial saves in the second period.
However, where Pickford shone most was through his distribution, which will be one of England’s key attacking threats this tournament.
From the off, Tuchel’s backline was comfortable with playing the ball back to their keeper, who would invite pressure and, in turn, create space for the forwards.
Thanks to the 32-year-old’s fine range in kicking, he could switch between short and long passes to draw in opponents and pick out teammates further up the field.
The role Pickford plays essentially creates an additional outfielder for England, and when facing high-quality teams that will cramp you for room, this is going to make life for the English a whole lot easier.
Jordan Pickford is cementing his status as an England legend
Last night was Pickford’s fifth consecutive appearance at a major tournament and third at a World Cup, which puts him in a pretty exclusive club for his country.
Throughout his time as England’s no.1, he has faced criticism and claims to his starting role, but in truth, no one has come close to taking that jersey from him.
From penalty heroics to incisive passes from his box, Pickford will go down as his country’s best goalkeeper, and considering he has just entered the peak age for a keeper, he’s still got plenty more in the tank.
