MEXICO CITY — It is often forgotten what an important part of England’s recent revolution Jordan Pickford has been.
A colourful character, he is as vital off the pitch as he is on it, keeping morale high in a way only people from that particular part of the north east can.
Between the posts, he has been a master of consistency, with his distribution, when at the peak of his powers a few years ago, as good as anything we have seen on our shores.
Yet before heading to Mexico City, Pickford had looked at his most vulnerable.
Even his own manager Thomas Tuchel flew off the handle at the Everton goalkeeper for not following orders in England’s opening World Cup victory over Croatia.
What a save from Pickford! England's number one with a massive hand to deny Raul Jimenez. pic.twitter.com/9qBHfvTNV1
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) July 6, 2026Little improved in the aftermath of that success. Pickford should have done better for both goals in that opener.
Nerves are not palpable in anything he does, but it was becoming a theme in the US.
When he was beaten at his near post against DR Congo, his place in the team, despite being such a loyal servant for so long, was under threat.
Tuchel doesn’t lose faith quickly and remained steadfast in his confidence in Pickford.
And, as he often does on the biggest occasions of all, the 32-year-old silenced the naysayers with a match-defining performance in Mexico, under the most intense examination Pickford has ever experienced.
“Having a world-class keeper behind you always helps,” Ezri Konsa said.
“He has made this many appearances for a reason.”
Pickford made several key saves to keep Mexico at bay (Photo: Getty)As 40 years of hurt was finally laid to rest at the altar of the Azteca, England allayed fears they would succumb to the mighty stadium and its energy-sapping atmosphere, with a first-half double from Jude Bellingham setting up the best World Cup victory since 1966 in a breathless manner.
Such divine intervention would not have been possible without Pickford’s wrists of steel.
A stunning early save to deny Raul Jimenez certainly had some resemblance to Gordon Banks’ famous stop in Guadalajara 56 long years ago, if not quite of the same ilk to stand the test of time.
Nothing can be taken away from its importance, however.
What will most please Tuchel is just how flawless Pickford was away from the spectacular. He punched when he needed to punch, and clung on at every necessary moment. There were no rushes of blood to the head, no errors in judgement.
Ironically, he equalled Peter Shilton’s record of 17 World Cup appearances for England on the very spot where Diego Maradona changed the course of the former’s destiny.
“I was in the moment,” Pickford said.
“We all know when we come into pressure situations, I have got that character where I step up and I have got that mindset where I feel unbelievable.”
What a character he is. You need that self-confidence to stand up to the heat in places like the Azteca. And what a time for him to get his mojo back.
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Doubts will creep in over England’s chances of stopping Erling Haaland next, with six long days to go between silencing the Azteca and the quarter-final clash with Norway.
But Pickford won’t mind one bit. In fact, he will welcome any scepticism. That is when he comes into his own.
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