Everton fans seldom have little to shout about when it comes to international football, but Jordan Pickford stands out as a beacon of hope.
After all, the 30-year-old shot-stopper has remained England’s number one for the past seven years now, and shows no signs of relinquishing that position despite scrutiny from the media.
He is a rock-solid, reliable enforcer at the back, and deserves far more acclaim than he gets.
However, it is hard for anyone to be praised after the European Championships campaign that his country is currently enduring, failing to live up to the lofty expectations expected of this team inundated with the very best from the Premier League and beyond.
So, his post-match reaction after last night’s 0-0 draw with Slovenia has drawn frustration.
England fans react to Jordan Pickford
Whilst the England fans were fickle in their decision to boo the team at full-time, it was somewhat warranted given the consistently dreary displays of this side.
Winning by just a one-goal margin in their opener against Serbia, a 1-1 draw with Denmark soon followed, with many praying that Gareth Southgate would let his side off the leash in their dead rubber clash yesterday.
They had already qualified from group C, yet it was another match of sideways and backwards passes, relying on moments that never came from the big names in the side.
This team needs a kick, and the fans sought to enforce it by making their feelings known at full-time.
However, Pickford’s impassioned response was not received well by his fans…
One fan account would lambast his lack of ambition with this reaction, writing: ‘The fact he’s celebrating a terrible result and performance for the team says it all. We need winners in that squad, not this.’
Then, another simply spelt out why fans had booed in the first place: ‘Pickford not happy about the booing. You are in a group with Denmark, Serbia and Slovenia and won once and scored twice. What did you expect you mate’.
Everton’s Jordan Pickford deserves support from England fans
Whilst fans have every right to be annoyed with the manager and his attacking force for failing to put these three inferior sides to the sword, Pickford simply should not be the target of their frustration.
He is merely asking for their support after a hard-fought draw, and of all the people who deserve it, he does.
After all, although he had little to nothing to do, the clean sheet attained did see Pickford pass an England milestone, just a few days after he overtook Peter Shilton as his country’s most-capped goalkeeper at major tournaments.
The former Sunderland man has now kept the most clean sheets for England at major tournaments as well, and shows no signs of stopping when it comes to making history in a Three Lions shirt.
Harry Kane has looked sluggish whilst Jude Bellingham has failed to make his mark. Phil Foden looks tired and uninspired, and Declan Rice is struggling to adapt to an ever-changing midfield that gives the team no stability.
All of these players and more should be justifiably criticised, but Pickford absolutely should not be just for asking for the fans’ support.