Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford is preparing to represent England at a World Cup finals for the third time in his career.
Former Sunderland star Jordan Pickford has insisted England are ‘not far off’ winning a major tournament as he prepares to represent the Three Lions at this summer’s World Cup finals.
The Academy of Light product earned his 83rd senior cap as Harry Kane got the only goal of the game to give Thomas Tuchel’s men a narrow win against New Zealand in their penultimate pre-tournament friendly. Pickford was replaced by Manchester City stopper James Trafford at half-time during the win and it seems likely Crystal Palace’s Dean Henderson will get some game-time when the Three Lions round off their preparations for the World Cup with a friendly against Costa Rica in Orlando on Wednesday night.
However, Pickford is certain to be Tuchel’s first-choice goalkeeper when the competitive action gets underway with a Group L clash with Croatia next Wednesday night after establishing himself as a consistent presence within the England squad over the last decade. The Everton star was part of the Three Lions side that reached the World Cup semi-final in 2018 before falling to a defeat against Italy in the Euro 2020 final. More final agony followed when Gareth Southgate’s reign came to an end with a 2-1 defeat against Spain at 2024 - but Pickford insisted England are on the right track as he prepares for his third World Cup finals.
He told The Mirror: “I think we're not far off. At England we have people constantly winning things regularly. I know, personally, I've not won anything. I'd love to win a lot of things, but my main focus is being a leader around the place and do what I do, use my experience. Since I've been here since the 2018 World Cup, just use that experience if it's young lads, if it need a chat.
"There is plenty of leaders here. And I've always said Harry Kane is the captain, but he can't just be leading by himself on the pitch it's got to take others. If it's demanding vocally, taking the ball - there are different types of leaders on the pitch. I think that's what the manager's got - the balance of leaders within the 26.”
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