Former England goalkeeper Paul Robinson has backed Jordan Pickford to retain the country’s No.1 shirt all the way through to Euro 2028.
The Everton goalkeeper’s long-standing position has come under greater scrutiny during the current international break, with Thomas Tuchel also giving James Trafford an opportunity between the posts.
Pickford, however, returned to the starting XI for Tuesday night’s 3-0 Nations League victory over Czechia at Wembley and recorded another clean sheet. Robinson has now made it clear who he expects to be in goal when England compete at a home European Championship in two years.
Robinson backs Jordan Pickford
Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live, the former Tottenham and Blackburn goalkeeper backed Pickford to see off the competition and remain England’s first choice for Euro 2028. Robinson’s support comes despite the increased debate over England’s goalkeeping position.
Pickford has been the country’s established No.1 for several years and has now made 91 senior international appearances, keeping 46 clean sheets.
He will be 34 by the time Euro 2028 arrives, but Robinson clearly doesn’t regard age as a reason for England to move on from a goalkeeper who has accumulated vast tournament experience.
The former England international had already questioned the decision to use Trafford against Spain during this Nations League window, saying Pickford would have been entitled to wonder why he wasn’t selected for the meeting with the world champions.
Competition for the shirt is unlikely to disappear, and Tuchel has taken the opportunity to look at another option. But after Pickford returned with another shutout at Wembley, Robinson sees no reason to expect a permanent changing of the guard before the next European Championship.
For Evertonians, that represents a significant vote of confidence from somebody who knows plenty about the demands that come with being England’s No.1.
