Back to the Everton Newsfeed

THE CLASH OF THE KEEPERS: Jordan Pickford is optimistic, enthusiastic and fearless... an error-free World Cup has highlighted once again how critical he is to England's prospects

Related Topics: Jordan Pickford, Jack Butland

Them's the breaks, so they say. It's a little phrase that will be in the mind this weekend when Jordan Pickford takes his place once more in England's goal.

Everton's number one is about to join an exclusive club, the latest player to reach 50 England caps. Occasionally these milestones creep up on individuals but Pickford, from many weeks ago, had worked out that December 10 in Al Khor would be important.

He anticipated it would be a showdown with Kylian Mbappe and Company and, on arrival here in Qatar, wouldn't consider the idea that England wouldn't reach the quarter-finals.