Fresh from narrowly avoiding relegation, three Everton stars—Amadou Onana, Vitaliy Mykolenko, and Jordan Pickford—joined their national teams for the 2024 Euros in Germany.
Everton’s Premier League survival, marked by overcoming points deductions and financial difficulties, was significantly aided by Pickford’s exceptional performance, which included 13 clean sheets, the fourth-most in the league last season.
As Everton’s goalkeeper, Pickford has transitioned his club form seamlessly into his role with the England national team. In their first two group games at the Euros, he conceded only one goal—a powerful long-range shot from Morten Hjulmand.
Pickford’s consistency has been a cornerstone for England, especially highlighted by his crucial penalty saves in the Euro 2020 final against Italy.
Despite Pickford’s solid performances, former England defender Rio Ferdinand has pointed out a tactical concern.
Speaking on his show, “Rio Ferdinand Presents FIVE,” he suggested that Pickford’s distribution choices might be hampering England’s play.
Ferdinand advocates for shorter passes from the back, emphasizing the importance of maintaining possession under pressure. He believes that Pickford’s tendency to opt for longer balls indicates a lack of trust in his outfield teammates to hold and manage the ball effectively.
Ferdinand elaborated, “The best teams pass the ball even when under pressure. They trust their teammates. England doesn’t do this enough. We don’t often see the ball rolled into midfielders like Declan Rice under pressure. Pickford needs to initiate these plays instead of opting for long passes, which disrupt the flow and trust within the team.”
As England prepares to face Slovenia in their final group match, a win would ensure they finish top of their group, providing a potentially easier path to the final.
Ferdinand’s comments highlight a critical area for improvement if England hopes to maximize their chances of success in the tournament.
