Everton’s World Cup involvement finally came to an end last night, when Jordan Pickford and England were beaten by Argentina in the last four.
It brings down the curtain on a tournament that saw four Toffees on duty across three different countries, with contrasting fortunes.
Pickford outlasted his Everton team-mates by some distance, becoming England’s record World Cup appearance-holder and producing a string of outstanding saves before the Three Lions’ exit in Atlanta.
Nathan Patterson’s Scotland were the first Everton interest to fall, eliminated at the group stage despite ending a 36-year wait for a World Cup win. Idrissa Gana Gueye and Iliman Ndiaye went furthest of the rest, guiding Senegal into the round of 32 before a dramatic extra-time defeat to Belgium.
England — Jordan Pickford
Round Result
Group L Beat Croatia 4-2, drew Ghana 0-0, beat Panama 2-0 (won group)
Round of 32 Beat DR Congo 2-1
Round of 16 Beat Mexico 3-2
Quarter-final Beat Norway 2-1 (AET)
Semi-final Lost to Argentina 2-1
Pickford’s tournament ended the way it had gone throughout — with the Everton keeper doing everything asked of him. His save from Nico Gonzalez’s header in the semi-final will live long in the memory, even if it wasn’t enough to prevent Enzo Fernandez and Lautaro Martinez turning the tie in Argentina’s favour.
Scotland — Nathan Patterson
Round Result
Group C Beat Haiti 1-0, lost to Morocco 1-0, lost to Brazil 3-0
Final standing Eliminated at group stage, missed out on best third-placed spot
Steve Clarke’s side made history simply by qualifying, ending a 28-year absence from the tournament, and their opening win over Haiti was Scotland’s first at a World Cup in 36 years.
Patterson started in game 2 but endured a difficult night against Brazil, and Scotland’s exit was confirmed once other results went against them. Clarke announced his resignation shortly after full-time.
Senegal — Idrissa Gana Gueye & Iliman Ndiaye
Pape Thiaw’s side led twice against Belgium, through Habib Diarra and Ismaila Sarr, before Romelu Lukaku’s introduction from the bench turned the tie.
Two Tielemans strikes — the second a penalty deep into extra time — completed the turnaround. Gueye and Ndiaye both started that game, with Ndiaye earning his first World Cup start after an impressive cameo against Iraq.
Gueye’s Everton contract has since expired, leaving his future beyond this summer unclear.
The bigger picture
Between them, Everton’s World Cup contingent played in three different countries, went out at three different stages, and left with wildly different emotions — heartbreak for Pickford in a semi-final defeat, disappointment for Patterson at the group stage, and an agonising late collapse for Gueye and Ndiaye.
Three of them will soon return to Merseyside for pre-season with a World Cup summer behind them.