Micah Richards has ‘never understood’ the debate on Everton ace Jordan Pickford starting for England at a World Cup. He also believes the goalkeeper has been a Three Lions ‘hero’.
Pickford flew to Qatar as England’s No.1 for the FIFA tournament this winter. He has stood between the sticks for his nation since November 2017 and has amassed 45 caps to date. It is also the 28-year-old’s third major tournament after the 2018 World Cup and Euro 2020.
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Gareth Southgate chose Pickford to guard the net at England’s last two major international tournaments. He started all seven of their ties at Russia 2018 and kept one clean sheet. He also shut out five teams en route to the Euro 2020 final after starting their seven matches.
Every minute England played during Euro 2020, Pickford featured. Southgate had no cause to drop the £30m Everton star, either. He barely put a foot wrong all summer and denied Andrea Belotti and Jorginho in their final shoot-out. But Italy still won 3-2 after a 1-1 draw.
Back at the last World Cup in 2018, Pickford was also among England’s best performers as the Everton goalie thrived. Despite his lack of international experience at the time, the 6ft stopper was never overawed by the global stage and sent Colombia home in a shoot-out.
Pickford paired vital saves in Russia against Sweden, Croatia and Belgium with an effective product on the ball, as well. Those traits have stayed with the Sunderland product over the years to follow, too. And he headed to Qatar 2022 in superb form for Everton this season.
Richards ‘never understood’ the debate over Everton ace and England ‘hero’ Pickford
Pickford has only kept three clean sheets through his 14 Premier League appearances. But HITC Football placed the Washington-born stopper atop of our mid-season Everton Power Rankings having been called into action much too often but regularly risen to the occasion.
Now, Pickford will be England’s No.1 at a major tournament for the third time at the World Cup in Qatar. And Richards cannot see any reason to doubt the Everton star shining for the Three Lions once again. He also believes the goalkeeper’s character will prove very helpful.
“I’ve never understood the debate about whether [or not] he should start a tournament,” Richards wrote in his Daily Mail column. “What has he ever done wrong for England? He has actually been a hero at times. I love him and have no doubts about him.
“He might be [like] Marmite to some people but I like Jordan’s character. You need strong personalities in a successful group and that’s what he is.”
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