Jordan Pickford is set to shatter a cherished England record when he takes to the pitch against Norway in their World Cup quarter-final showdown, and it's no surprise why. With 17 World Cup appearances already under his belt, the Everton goalkeeper is on the cusp of eclipsing Peter Shilton's benchmark, cementing his status as England's most-capped keeper in the tournament.
The Three Lions' thrilling 3-2 victory over Mexico in the last 16 was a testament to Pickford's top-class goalkeeping. His 'magnificent individual display' has left fans and pundits alike singing his praises, but some are still of the opinion that he doesn't get the recognition he deserves.
Despite dominating the Premier League with clean sheets aplenty, Pickford is often overlooked when it comes to England's best player accolades. However, a closer look at the numbers paints a different picture: in his last two seasons, he's secured 23 clean sheets – an impressive tally that only David Raya of Arsenal can better.
Former England goalkeeper Paul Robinson has echoed this sentiment, telling BBC Sport that Pickford is "under-appreciated" for both club and country. He praised the keeper's evolution, saying, "He's matured as a person and a professional. His distribution is second to none – you can see his long balls are superb, which England used as a weapon in Mexico."
Pickford's record with England speaks volumes: 59 goals conceded, 44 clean sheets, and only two errors leading directly to goals in his 89 appearances, according to Opta stats. It's little wonder that Robinson believes the lack of public debate over the England number one position is "the biggest credit" to Pickford – a testament to his firm grip on the role.
From his debut against Germany in November 2017 to his current status as England's go-to goalkeeper, Pickford has silenced critics with his unwavering reliability and crucial contributions to the national team's deep runs in major tournaments. His journey has been marked by 14 appearances at the European Championships, where England reached the final in two of the past three editions.
Source: BBC Sport