Troy Deeney, former Premier League striker, has expressed his belief that England cannot win the World Cup with Jordan Pickford as their first-choice goalkeeper. Pickford earned his 85th cap for the Three Lions during their impressive 4-2 victory over Croatia on Wednesday night, marking a strong start to their World Cup campaign. The Everton goalkeeper has been a consistent presence for England since his debut in late 2017, proving reliable under both Gareth Southgate and current manager Thomas Tuchel.
Despite Pickford's long tenure, Deeney remains unconvinced by the 32-year-old. Speaking on CBS Sports, Deeney criticized Pickford's chaotic style and questioned his ability to inspire confidence. He pointed to Pickford's handling of Croatia's first goal, suggesting the goalkeeper should have saved it. Deeney remarked, 'There’s just that feeling when I watch Jordan… We’re trying to win a World Cup. In my opinion, we can’t win it with that guy in goal. He doesn’t give you any confidence.'
In contrast, Harry Maguire, who did not make the England squad but has played alongside Pickford, praised the goalkeeper's composure against Croatia. Speaking on The Rest is Football, Maguire said, 'I think Picks today was really calm. Really, really calm under pressure.'
England's World Cup campaign continues as they aim for glory, but Deeney's comments have sparked debate about Pickford's role in the team.
