Former Everton defender Richard Dunne has highlighted a key fact that he believes undermines the arguments of Jordan Pickford's critics: for nearly nine years, no other English goalkeeper has been able to dislodge him from the No.1 spot.
Pickford, 32, produced a heroic display in England's 3-2 World Cup victory over Mexico at the Azteca Stadium, despite playing with ten men after Jarell Quansah's 54th-minute red card. He dominated his penalty area, punching away crosses and making crucial saves to preserve the lead.
The performance saw Pickford equal Peter Shilton's record for the most World Cup appearances by an England player (17). He will set a new record outright if selected for the quarter-final against Norway on Saturday.
Dunne: Pickford Doesn't Get the Credit He Deserves
Dunne, who made his Everton debut at 17 and played 431 Premier League games, told the ECHO: “Does Jordan Pickford get the credit he deserves? Definitely not. But he gets it from the managers because they keep choosing him and he keeps performing.”
He added: “There’s always an underlying theme among certain sections of the national media in England that they think he’s not good enough. Maybe it’s because he’s not playing in the Champions League or for one of the so-called ‘big clubs.’ He’s performed every time for England and he’s performed every time for Everton.”
Pickford's Maturity and Improvement
Dunne noted Pickford's development over the years: “Jordan has also improved a lot over the years. He’s matured as a player and as a person. He was outstanding against Mexico and made some great saves.”
He believes Pickford's longevity as England's undisputed No.1 since his debut against Germany in November 2017—less than five months after his £25million move from Sunderland to Everton—is telling. “The fact is though that for almost nine years now since he won his first cap, nobody has been able to challenge him or take the spot. The Premier League is the best league in the world and over that entire time, they’ve not been able to find another English goalkeeper who is better than him.”
Respect After Azteca Display
Dunne expects Pickford's performance in Mexico to earn him more respect: “I’m sure after his display in the Azteca as England beat Mexico, there will be a bit more respect for him and people will finally realise that he is a top keeper.”
Pickford has 89 England caps and remains a key figure for both club and country. His record-equalling World Cup appearance count underscores his consistency at the highest level.
