It's time to give Jordan Pickford the credit he deserves. The English goalkeeper has been a consistent and reliable force for Everton and the national team, and his performance at the 2026 World Cup has only further solidified his status as one of the best in the game.
Pickford's statistics speak for themselves. In the last two Premier League seasons, he has recorded 23 clean sheets, second only to David Raya, the keeper with Premier League champions Arsenal, who has 32. In his 89 England games, he has conceded 59 goals and kept 44 clean sheets, making only two errors that have led to goals, according to Opta statistics.
Former England goalkeeper Paul Robinson believes Pickford's contribution has been undervalued. "I think he has been under-appreciated for Everton and England when you look at the numbers he's posting, the games he is playing and the number of clean sheets he has," he told BBC Sport. "He is only second behind David Raya in the last two seasons for clean sheets and they are playing for very different teams. With England, you look at his experience, the way he has gone deep into tournaments. I always talk about competitive caps, but he has lots of tournament caps, which is so important."
Pickford has been England's first-choice tournament keeper since the 2018 World Cup, where they lost in the semi-final to Croatia in Moscow. His performance in the Azteca against Mexico was particularly impressive, with two brilliant first-half saves from Raul Jimenez, followed by an outstanding display of penalty-area command in a frantic second period. Robinson praised Pickford's bravery and maturity, noting that he took the initiative by coming for crosses and corners, making life easier for his defenders.
Pickford's Mexico masterclass can bolster England's confidence as they try to overcome the dangerous Norwegians and master striker Erling Haaland, who demonstrated their threat by beating Brazil 2-0 in the last 16. Robinson added, "I think Jordan Pickford's confidence will be at an all-time high and the team's will be as well after their win against Mexico. I questioned them on air when Thomas Tuchel went to a back five after 71 minutes. I was thinking I wasn't sure they would hang on, and that would have been a stick he would have been beaten with. It did go right and Jordan Pickford was a big part of it going right."
In conclusion, Pickford's performance at the 2026 World Cup has been a testament to his skill and consistency. He has earned the respect and admiration of his peers and fans alike, and his contribution to England's success in the tournament cannot be overstated. It's time to give him the credit he deserves.
