It's a bold new era for England, and goalkeeper Jordan Pickford is at the forefront of it all. The Everton stopper has given his seal of approval to Thomas Tuchel's aggressive approach, believing that a focus on decisive victories will be key to avoiding those dreaded penalty shootouts.
The Three Lions have set themselves up nicely for the knockout stages, with Saturday's 2-0 win against Panama securing top spot in Group L. And Pickford was the hero once again, playing his 29th major tournament game and recording another impressive clean sheet as England take on the Democratic Republic of Congo in Atlanta on Wednesday.
“It ramps up now, doesn’t it? It's a proper phase of football,” Pickford exclaimed after the Panama match. He knows that this is where the real test begins, but he's convinced that his team-mates have what it takes to thrive under pressure.
The experience and know-how within the squad are vast, with lads who've won Champions Leagues and youth tournaments rolling up their sleeves for England. And Pickford, one of the few remaining starters from Gareth Southgate's era, brings a wealth of tournament muscle memory to the table.
Under Tuchel's stewardship, England have adopted an attacking style that's leaving defenders scrambling to keep up. Players like Nico O'Reilly are being pushed high up the pitch, creating one-on-one situations and putting opposition teams under pressure. Pickford loves this approach, calling it “tactical” rather than a risk.
“We're playing front-foot football, and hopefully everyone back home is enjoying it as much as we are,” he said with a grin. The aim is simple: get the ball high up and suffocate teams – no time for fancy footwork or last-gasp saves.
Pickford has had his moments of fortune in the group stages, but overall, his record remains impressive. Who could forget his heroics against Colombia in 2018 or that stunning save against Switzerland at Euro 2024? But this time around, it's all about securing wins within regular time and unleashing England's attacking potential.
Source: UKPulse Media interviews