Everton’s Jordan Pickford was in action again for England on Wednesday evening in the final friendly before the World Cup.
Thomas Tuchel’s side secured a convincing 3-0 victory over Costa Rica in Orlando, with Pickford playing 63 minutes of the game.
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Despite managing to keep a clean sheet, the Everton goalkeeper was still slammed by certain sections of the English media.
Jordan Pickford slammed despite England clean sheet vs Costa Rica
Pickford did not have a single save to make before he was replaced by Dean Henderson in the 63rd minute of the game.
David Seaman thinks Pickford is crucial to England’s hopes of lifting the World Cup this summer, but not all the media were impressed on Wednesday night.
TalkSPORT’s Adrian Durham was left furious with the 32-year-old, as he awarded him a 1/10 rating: “He had nothing to do and still almost gifted Costa Rica a goal. Concentrate mate!”
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John Cross of The Mirror did not go to the same extreme, but did hand Pickford a 6/10: “Largely untroubled apart from when poor clearances made work for himself.”
Pickford’s concentration has come under fire in the past, but the Everton goalkeeper has not let England down yet.
“Effectively played as a sweeper, often stepping out of his goal. Should have been punished after one loose pass,” said Goal, who gave Pickford another 6/10 rating.
Pickford completed nine of his 11 attempted passes during the game on Wednesday, but there was one that almost led to a Costa Rica goal.
However, it must be stressed these two friendly games are where Thomas Tuchel will want his players to get any mistakes out of their system.
Dean Henderson wants to dislodge Pickford as England’s number one, but one stray pass is not going to do that ahead of next week’s opener against Croatia.
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