Many Everton fans will have tuned in to last night’s Euro 2024 final to support England, but for those unbothered by international football, at the very least they had someone to root for.
After all, Jordan Pickford has been a mainstay during Gareth Southgate’s tenure as the Three Lions boss, and any success he earns in between the sticks reflects well on the Toffees, who took him from Sunderland and allowed him to continue flourishing in the Premier League.
He is undoubtedly one of the world’s best in his position, but last night was simply not to be, as his side limped to a 2-1 defeat to Spain.
He could have done nothing about the two goals they shipped, yet there is always a fear that the media might overlook that as they desperately seek a scapegoat for this latest European Championships final loss.
However, Pickford was instead in line for plenty of praise rather than criticism.
National media praise Jordan Pickford’s display
The English national media are notorious for ripping players down when they get the chance, taking any little scrap of negativity and developing it into something newsworthy.
However, on this particular occasion, the general consensus seems to be that the better team on the night, and throughout the tournament, won the competition. They deserved it, and few could argue.
That does not detract from Pickford’s impressive displays, with The Guardian leading the adulation by handing him a 7/10 rating and writing: ‘Superb distribution to set up equaliser. Not at fault for goals and potentially match-saving save from Lamine Yamal.’
However, The Express would go a step further, attaching the following praise to an 8/10 rating: ‘England’s best player had no chance for both goals but produced two excellent saves to deny Yamal.’
The Standard agreed with that rating, whilst Sky Sports offered the following summation of his night: ‘Stared out the camera in the tunnel pre-match. Pressure is for tyres, as Alan Shearer quipped this summer.
‘Was clearly instructed to be more direct with his passing to evade the Spanish press with his long-ball restarts. Screamed at his defence to squeeze up throughout but was powerless to stem the Spanish second-half tide. Vital save from Yamal kept England in the game at 1-0.’
Juan Mata also praised Pickford’s contribution to England’s equaliser too, live on BBC One.
Jordan Pickford can focus on Everton now
Well, now that international duty is over, Pickford can return to Merseyside, where the real work begins.
After all, whilst he has been away there have been some pretty big changes at Goodison Park, with two first-team players shipped off and three new stars welcomed.
Already the squad is looking stronger and boasts plenty of depths, and by all accounts, Kevin Thelwell is far from finished too.
This promises to be a huge season for Everton, their last ever in Goodison Park.
Now that his England obligations are over, he can return ready to perform at the highest level once again for his club.
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