Everton star Jordan Pickford is England's number one
(Credit: Imago)
Joe Elvin
Sun 8 June 2025 20:14, UK
Jordan Pickford kept another clean sheet for England as he played the full 90 minutes in the 1-0 win away at Andorra.
The Everton stopper earned his 76th cap on Saturday (7 June), making him the second-most-capped England goalkeeper of all time.
He overtook David Seaman and Joe Hart, who both have 75 caps. Now, only Peter Shilton (125) has more.
The 31-year-old has consistently been the first-choice goalkeeper since making his debut in 2017, and looks set to remain so at the 2026 World Cup.
However, not everyone is pleased about that.
Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford earned his 76th cap on Saturday (Credit: Imago)
Pardew says Pickford not nailed on for World Cup starting spot
Pickford has a new manager to impress in Thomas Tuchel, but there are no realistic contenders for his No.1 jersey at the moment.
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Still, he has faced some criticism from talkSPORT pundits following the Andorra match.
First off, Adrian Durham rated him a 3/10 for failing to do anything special with his feet.
Now, Alan Pardew has suggested that Pickford wouldn’t be a nailed-on starter for him at the 2026 World Cup.
On Sunday (8 May), he said: “He’s had a great spell for England. He really has. But there has been moments in his Premier League career where I worry about him.
“He’s never really brought that to the England team, fair enough, and he might well be starting for England in the World Cup, but he’s not nailed on for me. He’s got a big year in front of him.”
Pardew chose not to mention who he would start in goal ahead of Pickford should England qualify for the tournament.
Pickford has England’s safest pair of hands
It’s fashionable for the media to attack the England team after they dare to only beat a European minnow like Andorra by one or two goals.
This time, even Pickford has caught some stray bullets despite making no mistakes and keeping a clean sheet.
Pardew mentioned that the goalkeeper has experienced “worrying moments” at Premier League level, but these are so few and far between that it’s difficult to remember any. The host should have pressed him to mention some specific moments.
England all-time most capped goalkeepers
Peter Shilton 125 caps
Jordan Pickford 76 caps
David Seaman 75 caps
Joe Hart 75 caps
Certainly, there’s no English goalkeeper out there making fewer mistakes. At club or international level.
It would appear as if this criticism is just a cheap attempt to create controversy after a dull qualifying game.
After all these years, there’s still no-one more suitable than Pickford to don the gloves for Everton or England.
If the Toffees sign a new goalkeeper this summer, it will be as Pickford’s understudy.
He’ll be a shoe-in to start at the World Cup.
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