Tuchel confirms Pickford remains England No 1 but Trafford set for more starts

Thomas Tuchel has confirmed Jordan Pickford is still England’s number one goalkeeper but indicated the Everton stopper may again share duties with James Trafford across this week’s UEFA Nations League double-header against Croatia at Wembley on Thursday and a trip to Spain on Sunday.

Pickford, who has held the starting jersey since Gareth Southgate handed him the role ahead of the 2018 World Cup, found himself on the bench for two of England’s four fixtures during the autumn international window — the first time in years the 93-cap keeper has ceded his place in a competitive environment. Trafford, the up-and-coming Leeds United goalkeeper, started both of those matches.

“No, he is [the number one],” Tuchel said when asked whether Pickford’s status had changed. “But nothing has changed. The competition is on there as well, like for the outfield players. Traff gets regular starts now, that’s what we wanted. James Trafford did well. They shared the matches last time. I’m not sure what we will do. There’s an opportunity that we maybe do this again.”

Tuchel framed the rotation as a deliberate strategy to stress-test his goalkeeping options ahead of the 2026 World Cup, pointing to the risk of relying solely on one player. “What happens if Jordan Pickford is injured? What happens if he’s not available? So, it’s better to test it,” he said. “Jordan knows about this — that we want to use Nations League for exactly that.”

The Germany-born coach also praised Pickford’s response to the situation, admitting he had expected a more defensive reaction from the 32-year-old. “I was very impressed and a bit surprised by his reaction when we spoke to him,” Tuchel said. “I thought he’d be less of a fan than he proved to be because he said he totally understands it.”

According to Tuchel, Pickford actively encouraged his rival rather than withdrawing. “He said, ‘Yeah, let’s do this, Traff deserves it and I will push him’. And he didn’t change at all. If he changed, he changed even to the positive — he pushed Traff, he gave him a lot.”

The head coach added that the Nations League represented a rare opportunity to evaluate a back-up goalkeeper under genuine pressure. “When do I have a chance to see another goalkeeper, if not in Nations League? If not in high-pressure matches?” he said, referencing Trafford’s debut start against Spain in the previous camp as a deliberate test of the younger keeper’s readiness for elite opposition.