Pickford On Tuchel’s England, Leadership & World Cup Optimism

In an excerpt from the Official Matchday Programme, Jordan Pickford sat down to discuss a huge summer ahead with England at the World Cup, his growing leadership role, and his goals for the tournament in North America...

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Typically solid displays have ensured there is no debate as to who will be Thomas Tuchel’s goalkeeper for England when this summer’s World Cup in USA, Canada and Mexico gets under way this month.

“You’ve just got to enjoy it – the ride, the journey you go on at these tournaments,” Pickford insists. “You’ve got to enjoy every day. You wake up with a smile on your face and take in the experiences of being with the group, being in that environment of a world stage.

“When it comes to the games, it’s superb. We know we’ll be well followed, as we always are, and we want to go all the way and win it. That’s the goal.

“We’ve come so close and there have been a lot of disappointments but we talk about the journeys and we want this to be our moment.

“Look, it’s never plain sailing. These tournaments are rollercoasters of ups and downs but you have to ride them and keep going.

“Now we’ve got a new manager in Thomas [Tuchel] and it’s our first tournament with him, so he’ll have his own stamp to put on it. I know we’ll step on the gas and we all know where we want to get to.”

All things considered, it’s no stretch to already consider Pickford amongst England’s best all-time goalkeepers, and, still only in his early 30s, he feels there is still plenty more still to come.

“I’m young,” says Pickford, who is set to participate in his fifth major international tournament. “I read recently that [Guillermo] Ochoa from Mexico could play in his sixth World Cup! That’s incredible! But, yeah, I feel like I’m getting better all the time, with each game and each training session. That’s always what I’ve strived for.

“I’m always asking myself, ‘How can I improve?’, and demanding more from myself. I think that’s what got me to where I am today and seen me play so many games for Everton and England.

“I want to contribute in every way I can. I try to be a leader in whatever team I’m in. One player has got to wear the captain’s armband but you need more leaders than that in the team to be successful.

“I want to play my part in driving my team forward – for Everton and for England.”