Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford is currently in World Cup action for England against DR Congo at Atlanta Stadium
Alan Shearer
Alan Shearer
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Alan Shearer believes Jordan Pickford should have saved Brian Cipenga's opening goal for DR Congo against England. Thomas Tuchel’s side got off to the worst possible start at Atlanta Stadium when Cipenga opened the scoring after just seven minutes.
Djed Spence was first caught out by a ball over the top before Cipenga controlled it and beat Pickford at his near post with a low drive. But former Newcastle United forward Shearer believes the Everton goalkeeper should not be beaten at his near post the way he was.
“You can see the shock on the England players' and fans' faces - this is not what they expected,” he said on BBC commentary.
“Cipenga has no other thought but to get the shot away. England are all over the place, Spence comes in with the tackle but can't get there, and Pickford gets done at his near post. For a keeper of his quality, he shouldn't be beaten there.”
Speaking ahead of the game, Pickford revealed that his England team-mates were “ready to go to war” for Tuchel.
He said: “Belief, togetherness. I think we have had that previously, but I think the manager’s got that belief in us.
“The meetings the manager has with us, it is like you are ready to go to war. He puts that belief in you. There is different meetings he has tactically, and it is like ‘yeah, it is go time’.
“We all want the same goal, we all want that end goal and this squad he has picked, we are all in good spirits and all in good moments in our career.”
While the Blues star also told ITV: “We want to win the game in 90 minutes, but we will ready as a team, as a group, as England to do what it takes to get the victory.
“If it goes to penalties, extra-time, we have got the ability, we have got the lads to come off the bench, our togetherness is a high level and that is what we are here to do.
“We are here to do the job. We know Congo is a tough nation, we know how many teams in Africa have qualified for the next round of games.
“They are a proud nation, and we have got to be ready for what they bring – but it is also about what we bring as a group, and we will be right after them.”
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