David Beckham posted on his Instagram story ‘in safe hands’ after Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford helped England beat Senegal 3-0 during their last-16 World Cup showdown in Qatar on Sunday.
At 0-0, the Everton shot-stopper produced an outstanding one v one save to ensure Senegal didn’t start the match with their tails up.
That proved to be game-changing from the Everton man because, as the minutes passed by, Gareth Southgate’s side started to warm up and go up a few levels in performance.
That’s when the likes of Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden, Bukayo Saka and Harry Kane started to cook and dismantle a sorry Senegal side to book their ticket in the quarter-finals.
Added with that ticket, Pickford was able to add a clean sheet to boot, which is three-in-a-row for the 28-year-old out in Doha.
Nonetheless, former England captain David Beckham wrote the following message on his IG story ‘in safe hands’, added with a picture of Pickford raising his hands in delight.
PICKFORD UNDERRATED ON THE INTERNATIONAL STAGE
Whilst Pickford can produce error-prone performances on the domestic stage, and it probably doesn’t please Everton fans, one thing that can’t be argued are his performances for when he plays for England.
At the 2018 World Cup, at Euro 2020 and now in Qatar, he has been near-on faultless.
Some Everton fans will be questioning where this calmness, commanding nature and error-free ways are when he is playing for them.
In truth, for the last 18 months, he has probably been his side’s best player, aside from the last Premier League game when he gifted Bournemouth a goal.
Either way, he is underrated on the international scene.
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