Jordan Pickford will win his 80th international cap when England face Latvia, yet the Everton goalkeeper remains one of the most underrated players in the nation's history. Despite a consistent record of excellence, both for club and country, he has often been denied the acclaim afforded to his peers.
Pickford recently set an England record of eight consecutive clean sheets, though praise was tempered by the modest quality of the opposition: Greece, Ireland, Albania, Latvia, Andorra (twice), Serbia and Wales. Thomas Tuchel initially said he wanted a 'race' for the number one jersey, but has since acknowledged there is no genuine challenger.
His two penalty saves in the Euro 2020 final shootout, including a stunning stop to deny Jorginho, should have secured his place in goalkeeping folklore. Yet England's eventual defeat meant those heroics were largely forgotten. Gareth Southgate once lamented how often Pickford's place in the team had been questioned.
That Pickford plays for Everton, rather than a modern-day marquee club, is probably part of the reason for his underappreciation. But his consistent excellence over eight years at Goodison Park has arguably contributed more to his club's cause than any other current English player.
Now 31, and turning 32 in March, Pickford insists he is still improving. He can look forward to at least three more tournament finals, with few young English goalkeepers emerging to challenge him. Everton are keen to finalise a new deal for him, with his current contract expiring in 2027.
