The World Cup is now just around the corner – and Joe Cole believes that it could be the last for Everton’s Jordan Pickford.
The final international break has just concluded, with the focus about to shift back to club football.
Thomas Tuchel named a bigger squad than usual in order to take a look at several players who are on the fringes.
One of those players is James Garner, who did well on his debut against Uruguay, earning praise from Tuchel who compared him to Fede Valverde.
It remains to be seen if he’s done enough for a seat on the place.
But one man who’ll definitely be going is Jordan Pickford.
But for Joe Cole, this could well be his final World Cup with the national team due to the player’s age and one other factor.
Joe Cole thinks James Trafford is coming for Jordan Pickford’s England spot
Jordan Pickford ahead of playing for England.
Photo by Michael Regan – The FA/The FA via Getty Images
Pickford has been unchallenged as the England number one for many years now.
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The 32-year-old has 82 caps for his country and is bearing down on 100 – only 10 other players have 100 Three Lions caps or more.
But Joe Cole – who got 51 caps for England – believes that a proper challenge may soon be coming for Pickford at long last.
He feels that James Trafford could be set to usurp the Everton man after the World Cup, potentially making this the final tournament for Pickford.
He said on The Dressing Room Podcast: “It will be Pickford, but what I will say is that I think this will be Pickford’s last tournament, because I watched Trafford in that cup final (Carabao Cup final vs Arsenal), he looks composed, he looks so calm.
“I think Pickford is brilliant, but he’s getting on a bit, I think he’s brilliant right, but I’ve not been as excited about an English goalkeeper since seeing Trafford, he looks so calm.”
Pickford at the top of his game
Joe Cole points while playing for England.
Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images
It could well be that Pickford does start to face greater competition for his place after the World Cup.
Trafford looks a great goalkeeper, and he could leave Manchester City in order to play regularly – you would think he won’t be short of suitors.
Pickford is 32 now, and this may turn out to be his last World Cup.
That said, top goalkeepers tend to play into their late 30s so Pickford could have another tournament in him – it’s just whether he’d still be number one.
Should Jordan Pickford now be considered one of the world’s best goalkeepers? 🤔
Gary Lineker is adamant he should 👀
A custom image showing a quote from Gary Lineker about Jordan Pickford.
Photo by George Wood/Getty Images, and Photo by Shaun Brooks – CameraSport via Getty Images
Certainly at the moment, Pickford is at the very top of his game.
It was recently reveled that he has the highest goals prevented metric in the Premier League so far this season, and he has made some truly inspired saves.
Gary Lineker said he should be in the world-class conversation, and it does feel like he’s finnally been receiving his flowers from neutral fans.
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