Jordan Pickford is set to play in his fifth major tournament as England's No.1, and will be targeting his first major trophy this summer
Jordan Pickford will play in his fifth major international tournament (Photo by Nigel French/Sportsphoto/Allstar via Getty Images)
Jordan Pickford will play in his fifth major international tournament (Photo by Nigel French/Sportsphoto/Allstar via Getty Images)
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Jordan Pickford will head to the World Cup intent on helping England finally crown a golden age with silverware.
The Three Lions No.1 has endured the heartbreak of two final defeats in the Euros and two World Cup campaigns that have ended at the semi and quarter-final stages.
But England head to this summer’s showcase, held across the USA, Canada and Mexico, as one of the tournament favourites and with their number one in a rich vein of form.
Pickford has spent his international career under intense scrutiny but is the undisputed number one of the latest England boss, Thomas Tuchel, ahead of upcoming friendlies with Japan and Uruguay.
The 32-year-old has always viewed competition as a good thing - something that has inspired him to push himself to new heights.
Reflecting on his journey to 81 caps, he said: “It's good to have a good crop of English goalkeepers, it's great for them to push me and it's about me pushing myself even more. If I'm up there and I want to push up, then they've got to chase the wolf.
“It's about doing everything I can at Everton; the work I put in on the training pitch, if I'm doing gym sessions, putting the performances in, it gives me that platform to be the best for England, and it's something I've done for years.
"I've never just been happy, I've always wanted to push myself to be the best, and I feel like that's what I am and that's what I want to keep doing. My ambition is just to keep pushing myself even higher and keep putting that England shirt on with pride.”
Pickford has done just that. While Everton’s struggle for survival over recent seasons has been in stark contrast to the pursuit of glory with England, he has been central to the fortunes of both. No player at Everton did more on the pitch to save the club from multiple relegation scares.
Jordan Pickford has never won a major trophy
Jordan Pickford has never won a major trophy
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Now the club is fighting for Europe and Pickford is again playing a key role. His stop from Sandro Tonali in an important recent win at Newcastle United - lauded as a competitor for save of the season - was particularly poignant given it came with one-time England challengers Nick Pope and Aaron Ramsdale looking on.
His challenge has extended beyond the exploits of pretenders to his throne, with Pickford once a major target for rival supporters, particularly those of Everton's rivals Liverpool as well as Newcastle United, given his close association with boyhood club Sunderland.
Both fanbases have started to tone down their efforts to unnerve him after repeatedly watching him excel in the face of antagonism.
Asked how he deals with critics, Pickford said: “It's about just being mentally strong. Everyone knows what I've done for England in the shirt, the only thing I've not done is win a trophy, so that's the aim in the summer.”
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