England were abysmal last night, but Everton fans would have relished watching yet another comfortable showing for their Jordan Pickford.
His solidified presence for the national team has become a real source of contentment for this fanbase, who have had little to shout about in recent years.
Seeing one of their prized assets perform on the biggest stage, shattering countless records along the way, never loses its allure.
And earning acclaim from his teammates only adds to the pride, with John Stones the latest to laud his compatriot.
John Stones reveals mid-match conversation with Jordan Pickford
Speaking to beIN Sports after the match, the former Everton and current Manchester City defender was unsurprisingly in good spirits whilst chatting with reporters.
In fact, it is quite ironic just how upbeat the England camp was in their various interviews, when if not for Jude Bellingham’s last-gasp piece of magic, the narrative would have been so different.
Making himself the hero once again, Jude Bellingham’s mid-match action towards Pickford proved why he is also such a vital member of the squad, and Stones would seek to reinforce this notion with his revelation.
He claimed: ‘I can’t remember, to be honest. He sees everything, so I am sure he saw bits where we could improve.
‘I remember he was quite angry, as I was, but, yeah, we had quite a few conversations, me and him, and embraced after the game. Me and him have played a lot of games together now, think it’s 23 or 24 consecutively in tournament football, something I am really proud of and he is as well.
‘We have been through a lot together and his advice is always valued by me and the back four.’
Everton’s Jordan Pickford captures attention with odd reaction
Having already received plenty of praise from his teammates for his work in alleviating pressure with some big claims, what Pickford did in the very last minute of the game has truly stolen headlines.
As an energetic and animated character, the 30-year-old has often been scrutinised for letting his personality run rampant by rival fans.
Taunting Newcastle United supporters or pulling faces into cameras after a save, it’s actually quite nice to see a footballer showcase a bit of personality for a change.
However, after such a dismal England display, when he dropped on the ball in the final minute, his gaping expression has understandably been laughed at.
Hardly a performance to write home about, at the very least he had earned such relief, given he was one of the few who came out of the match with any praise.
Evertonians are more than used to these antics, but it still might take the rest of the country some getting used to.
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