Alious
Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford featured for England on Friday, helping the Three Lions secure a straightforward 2-0 victory against Albania. The match, held at Wembley Stadium on March 21, marked the start of England’s 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign, with goals from Myles Lewis-Skelly and Harry Kane. Pickford, the Everton custodian, maintained a shutout, kicking off Thomas Tuchel’s time as England manager on a high note.
English media outlets were consistent in their assessment of Pickford’s display during the game against Sylvinho’s Albanian team, noting he had a quiet night. Prior to David Moyes’ return to Everton’s helm, Pickford had been struggling this season, and there were questions about whether he’d retain his spot as England’s top goalkeeper under Tuchel. Those concerns were dispelled when the 31-year-old lined up between the posts for Tuchel’s debut match.
The ex-Sunderland player faced minimal action at Wembley, rarely tested and keeping a comfortable clean sheet. The press agreed on his performance, highlighting his 36th shutout in 74 England caps, overtaking Gordon Banks’ record of 35 and placing him fourth on England’s all-time clean sheet list.
The BBC noted in its ratings, “He barely needed to make a save, with his usual reliable distribution.” The Guardian, awarding him a 6/10, said, “Solid distribution, no saves required, and he dashed over for a chat with Tuchel after the opener.”
The Express remarked, “Not much to do, though he had a brief mix-up under his bar early on.” The Standard added, “Starting suggests he’ll stay England’s No.1 under Tuchel. A calm night with no saves needed.” All four gave him a 6/10.
At Everton, while Pickford’s position as the primary goalkeeper is secure, the club may soon need to address its backup options.
Joao Virginia and Asmir Begovic, whose contracts end this season, are in limbo. Virginia, with only two outings this term—one in the FA Cup and one in the EFL Cup, where he kept a clean sheet against Doncaster Rovers—has seen limited action. Begovic, the third-string keeper, hasn’t played at all. The Toffees’ leadership must soon decide whether to extend their contracts or let them depart as free agents.
Keeping both could be a budget-friendly fix for the backup role, but Virginia, at 25, might opt to leave in search of regular playing time, something unlikely at Everton while Pickford remains the top choice.
Alious
