England's Unsung Hero - Jordan Pickford
He’s vastly considered the talisman.
In England’s 2-0 win over Germany in the last-16 of Euro 2020, talk immediately turned to the team’s attacking force. Raheem Sterling opened the scoring, and now on three goals for the tournament, he’s vastly considered the talisman. Two goals behind Cristiano Ronaldo’s tally of five, with Portugal eliminated, the Manchester City winger will be hopeful of being in with a shout of the Golden Boot.
Harry Kane, then, finally broke his duck at Euro 2020 – heading in from Jack Grealish’s cross. The striker had come under much criticism, but in securing the victory – England’s first over Germany in 55 years of knockout football – surely silenced the doubters, if only for that one match.
But for those looking to predict who will be crowned winner in the Euro player of the tournament odds, there appears to be a name missing from the list – Jordan Pickford. The goalkeeper, who plays his domestic football for Everton and made his real international breakthrough at the 2018 World Cup in Russia, has been key in England’s run to the quarter-finals of the tournament.
Pickford has kept clean sheets in every single one of England’s matches so far – with the Three Lions securing 1-0 victories over Croatia and the Czech Republic, as well as that 0-0 draw with Scotland in the group stages, prior to facing Germany in the last-16. Of course, he hasn’t had shots raining in on his goal by the opposition so far, but when Pickford has been called upon, he’s cleared any dangers and made crucial stops at crucial times – as you’d expect from a good goalkeeper.
In fact, during BBC’s coverage of the England vs Germany match, an omen was revealed – one that no doubt had the Three Lions’ faithful finally believing that football is indeed coming home. The last time that England kept four clean sheets in a row at a major tournament, they went on to be named World Cup winners in 1966.
And it was in that same tournament that then-England goalkeeper Gordon Banks kept a clean sheet in all three group games – a feat replicated by Pickford for the first time since. He is only the second goalkeeper to achieve such an accolade – and for that reason, deserves to be recognized.
For what it’s worth, in an Everton shirt, Pickford has gained this reputation as being a goalkeeper on edge, and it’s this impatience that has led to mistakes in the past. But for his national team, Pickford looks cool, calm and collected. He’s certainly more decisive and looks in control of the defenders in front of him. That was clear to see in the recent match against Germany.
Former England keeper and legend of the game, Peter Shilton has been impressed by the current number 1:
“He has got control of his defence, he gives them a rollicking. He is decisive, he comes out at times to punch. All this tells me he is in control of his game.”
It was in fact Southgate that handed Pickford his first cap at international level, when playing for the U21 side, and it seems that constant backing has been gratefully received. He has fully justified his place as England’s number 1.
And while it was Harry Maguire who was named the official Man of the Match – having run himself into the ground against Germany – the punditry team were in agreement that Pickford was worthy, with Gary Neville tweeting after the game:
My MOM last night was Jordan Pickford and I also think he’s been England’s player of the tournament so far . I’ve been critical of him with Everton but with 🏴 he’s a different player !
— Gary Neville (@GNev2) June 30, 2021
Another clean sheet on Saturday night to set up a semi-final clash will surely see fans, pundits and media alike, finally stand up and take notice of Pickford’s achievements. In the meantime, he carries on being England’s unsung hero of Euro 2020.
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