Jordan Pickford has declared that England intend to settle their World Cup last-16 tie against the Democratic Republic of Congo inside normal time, despite his own formidable record in penalty shootouts. The Everton goalkeeper issued the warning after the Three Lions secured top spot in Group L with a 2-0 victory over Panama on Saturday.
The result set up a meeting with the Democratic Republic of Congo in Atlanta on Wednesday and marked Pickford’s 29th consecutive major tournament appearance for his country. The 32-year-old now has 46 clean sheets, including six at World Cup finals, from 87 international caps.
Front-foot approach
Pickford defended Thomas Tuchel’s attacking strategy despite some uncertain moments during the group stage. The system pushes Nico O’Reilly high from left-back, often leaving defenders isolated, and Pickford was fortunate not to be punished after charging from his goal to collide with Ghana substitute Prince Kwabena Adu.
“I wouldn’t say it’s a risk,” Pickford said. “It’s tactical. We’re playing front-foot football. Hopefully everyone at home is enjoying it. We’re enjoying it. There are a lot of positives out of it because we want to get the ball high up and suffocate teams.”
Penalty pedigree
Although Pickford has been practising spot-kicks and boasts shootout heroics against Colombia in 2018 and Switzerland at Euro 2024—where he saved Manuel Akanji’s attempt—he stressed the squad share a collective desire to avoid the lottery of penalties.
“We believe in each other – they have confidence I can save a penalty and I have confidence they can score them,” he said. “But we want to be winning the game, we don’t want to go to penalties.”
The Sunderland academy graduate, who joined Everton in 2017 during England’s run to the Under-21 European Championship semi-finals, remains the undisputed first choice despite Dean Henderson’s excellent season at Crystal Palace. Pickford is one of the last remnants of the Gareth Southgate era still in the starting XI.
Knockout pressure
Pickford believes his muscle memory from previous tournaments will prove vital as the competition intensifies. “It ramps up now, doesn’t it?” he said. “It’s a proper phase of football. One game at a time. There are lads who have won Champions Leagues, lads who have been in youth tournaments with England. Everyone knows the pressure of it and I think that is where you will see us thrive.”