Pickford backs England to thrive in knockouts as DR Congo tie looms in Atlanta

Jordan Pickford has called on England to build on back-to-back World Cup clean sheets and insisted the squad has everything it needs to thrive in the knockout phase, starting with Wednesday’s round-of-16 meeting against DR Congo in Atlanta.

The Everton goalkeeper acknowledged that Panama tested England’s backline with 13 shots at MetLife Stadium on Saturday, but argued that successive shutouts provide the ideal platform heading into the business end of the tournament. “Clean sheets in tournament football are crucial,” Pickford said. “It’s fine margins and we’ve got a lot going forward. So if we keep it tight at the back with clean sheets then it’ll give us the best chance.”

Pickford pointed to the experience within Thomas Tuchel’s squad as a key reason for confidence. “There are lads who have won Champions Leagues, lads who have been in youth tournaments with England. Everyone knows the pressure of it and I think that is where you will see us thrive.”

England were pushed to extra-time by both Slovakia and Switzerland at Euro 2024 in Germany, and the prospect of a penalty shootout is now a live possibility. Pickford, who has saved shootout penalties for England before, made clear he remains willing to step up from the spot himself — even if the squad’s improving quality of takers has nudged him down the order. “Everyone is good at them and that’s the standard we set and the confidence we put in each other,” he said. “It’s my job to make the saves and in tournaments, time and time before, I’ve always come up with a save in a shoot-out for England and I’ll hopefully continue that.”

On the mental approach to knockout football, Pickford stressed continuity over reinvention. “It’s not too different. We’ve got our goal. You take it step by step, you work on the training pitch, you keep that enjoyment and keep that fun environment but once you’re training you’re working.”

The goalkeeper credited the culture established since he joined the senior setup in 2018 as central to England’s resilience. “That’s what I feel we’ve got right since I got here in 2018,” he added. England face DR Congo in Atlanta on Wednesday.