Jordan Pickford says he “completely accepted” being left out of England’s matches against Spain and the Czech Republic, despite rarely starting on the bench for club or country.
Pickford, who played 30 consecutive matches during England’s training camp in the United States, said head coach explained the decision before the game with Spain and gave him “a peaceful mindset”.
The goalkeeper said his role was to support Trafford and Dean Henderson, maintain high standards in training and lead by example.
“It certainly feels strange not to be able to play, but I’ve always believed that no matter how talented a player is, they must first be a good teammate,” Pickford said.
Trafford has performed strongly for Leeds United this season, while Henderson previously played in England’s third-place match against France. Pickford said the goalkeeping group had developed a strong atmosphere over the past two years and that giving younger players experience in official matches was a decision he respected.
England now face Croatia away in a match expected to be played in front of a small crowd, with mostly student supporters and more than 100 travelling England fans. Pickford said the unusual setting should not distract the team from following the manager’s tactical plan.
Croatia remain a “strong team” with talented players, he added. Manchester City defender Gvardiol has been performing at a consistently high Premier League level, while Modric and Perisic continue to play at the top level. Croatia have also produced a number of promising younger players.
England lost to Croatia in the 2018 World Cup but beat them 4-2 in the opening group match of the most recent World Cup. Pickford described the second half of that victory as one of England’s best performances in the tournament, saying the team’s pressure and attacking intensity reached their highest level after the interval.
He rejected suggestions that England’s defensive record was a major concern after keeping five clean sheets in their past 13 matches. England played eight matches at the World Cup against teams who had emerged from continental qualifying, and Pickford said five shut-outs in 13 games was “not a bad result”, although the side still wanted to improve.
The 30-year-old also said competition for his position continued to drive him. He insisted he never relaxes, even when playing regularly for his club, and added that 30 was the “golden age” for a goalkeeper.
Citing Neuer as an example, Pickford said he would continue playing for England until he was 40 if his fitness allowed. “I show no signs of decline; on the contrary, I am constantly improving,” he said.
Pickford also backed Harry Kane to win the Ballon d’Or, praising his discipline, finishing, character and professionalism. Kane needs two more England appearances to equal Peter Shilton’s record.
Croatia have a new coach, Bilic, and may therefore alter their tactical approach. Pickford warned that their substitutes could offer varied attacking threats, although England remained focused on producing their best performance.
