‘You’ll see us thrive’ Pickford welcomes tough test

Goalkeeper backs England's tournament experience and front-footed approach to help navigate knockout stages

- Ed Aarons

Jordan Pickford has pretty much seen it all since making his first England appearance at under-16 level in 2009.

Although he experienced the embarrassment of conceding the only goal scored by a goalkeeper from open play at a Fifa World Cup match against Canada in the under-17 edition in Mexico two years later, the 32-year-old has more than made up for it.

The 2-0 victory against Panama on Saturday was the 29th major tournament England game in a row to feature Pickford, as Thomas Tuchel’s side secured top spot in Group L to set up a meeting with the Democratic Republic of the Congo in Atlanta on Wednesday. As the Everton goalkeeper is fully aware, things are about to get much more serious.

“It ramps up now, doesn’t it?” he said after his 46th clean sheet, and sixth at the World Cup, from 87 caps. “It’s a proper phase of football. One game at a time. There are lads who have won Champions Leagues, lads who have been in youth tournaments with England. Everyone knows the pressure of it and I think that is where you will see us thrive.”