Everton’s representation at England’s international level across the last few years has fallen solely on one man’s shoulders, and for the most part, he has been spotless.
Jordan Pickford is a character that inexplicably draws mass scrutiny, despite his obvious benefits.
He is a fine ball-playing shot-stopper, who whilst once a tad rash and reckless, has almost completely eradicated that from his game over the last five or so seasons.
Naturally capable of the odd gaffe, none have come in an England shirt, leading many to believe he only performs for country. Evertonians will gladly inform those who make such an uneducated claim that it is far from the case.
However, even with Jarrad Branthwaite joining him in Gareth Southgate’s provisional 33-man England squad ahead of the European Championships, it still felt like someone was missing.
Gareth Southgate should’ve taken James Tarkowski
Everton’s 21-year-old defender has been imperious this campaign, and a mainstay in a backline that has remained rock-solid throughout.
However, for all his physical benefits, boasting a towering frame and blistering recovery speed, he is prone to the occasional blunder too.
That has been somewhat covered by both the goalkeeper and his defensive partner though across the campaign, and yet James Tarkowski has once again gone unnoticed.
The 31-year-old stalwart has already proved to be one of the club’s finest pieces of business in recent memory, but his work in organising and marshalling those around him is arguably more invaluable than his actual technical and physical assets, which are also impressive.
So, whilst Southgate deserves credit for sticking with Branthwaite, perhaps he might have considered a clean sheet to recognise Everton’s majestic defending throughout a torrid campaign.
Everton’s back three deserved to go to the Euro’s
All three of the aforementioned Toffees deserved to at least be a part of this provisional squad, at the very least to congratulate them on a job well done.
After all, Southgate likely already knows his official squad, meaning one or two of Branthwaite, Lewis Dunk, Harry Maguire, Ezri Konsa, Marc Guehi, John Stones, Jarell Quansah or Joe Gomez will not travel.
It is worth noting that all of those defenders mentioned, the last three aside, conceded more goals in their respective teams despite finishing way above Everton.
And not only that, but Quansah and Stones hardly played starring roles in their teams too, limited through injury and youth.
They plugged gaps, whilst Everton’s vice-captain held the entire world on his back.
As such, Tarkowski was named in a Team of the Season, with his 7.32 average rating upheld through an admirable 78% pass accuracy and 1.6 tackles, 4.9 clearances and 4.9 ball recoveries per game, via Sofascore.
Sean Dyche’s£100k-a-week colossus may not have been a starter in Germany for England, or even on the plane. But his remarkable form was far superior to many of those who made the cut, and his continued omission remains a mystery.