Pickford the Last Man Standing for Everton at Euro 2024

Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford is the club’s last remaining representative at the 2024 European Championship in Germany.

Ukraine’s Vitalii Mykolenko exited the tournament at the end of the group stage, while Amadou Onana was part of the Belgium team knocked out by France in the last-16.

Pickford has advanced to the quarter-finals with England, although it would be fair to say their journey there has been anything but smooth sailing.

Despite their underwhelming performances, the latest bet365 Euros betting lines still list England as favourites to lift the prestigious trophy.

Spain, Germany and France are also strong contenders, while it would be foolish to underestimate Portugal’s chances of upsetting the odds.

England Struggle to Find the Right Balance

Pickford is one of a handful of England players who can take personal satisfaction from their performances during Euro 2024.

The Three Lions have conceded just two goals in four games at the tournament, and the Everton goalkeeper cannot be blamed for either of them.

He has been a vocal presence at the back for England and has not been afraid to front up to the media when questions have been asked about the team’s performances.

Pickford would be justified in feeling angry about how things have unfolded in Germany, with many of his teammates failing to live up to their lofty reputations.

Intriguingly, he was not part of a coalition which pushed manager Gareth Southgate to switch tactics for the final group game against Slovenia.

This suggests that he is focused exclusively on his own performances, but it would be a surprise if he hasn’t expressed strong views in the dressing room.

Southgate’s tactical ineptitude has come to the fore again during Euro 2024, particularly with regard to him finding the right balance in midfield and attack.

His decision to start Liverpool full-back Trent Alexander-Arnold in midfield in the first two games played a major role in the team underperforming in those two games.

The introduction of Kobbie Mainoo in the middle of the park has improved matters, but England are yet to deliver a top-class performance.

They must improve to advance past Switzerland in the quarter-final, although their experiences at previous tournaments could help them get the job done.

The Secret Weapon: Support Behind the Scenes?

With so little to be hopeful for on the pitch up to this point, there is one unique secret weapon that England has in its back pocket – its disastrous result at the 2020 Euros.

When the team entered the final against Italy, they were the favourites to emerge victorious. However, disaster struck during the penalty shoot-out and English fans spewed vitriol for weeks on end.

The result was an uncomfortably raw look at the relationship between fans, sports and players at the highest echelon. Many people look back at the time as a quiet landmark in football - one which led to a more honest discussion about the emotional wellbeing of players.

From the outside looking in, the degree of criticism surrounding the current squad doesn’t feel entirely dissimilar from the last Euros. But they now seem much more prepared to deal with pressure.

Despite Southgate’s inability to get the most out of his players, it seems there’s a strong network of support in the squad which might be a secret weapon if England gets its act together against Switzerland.

18+

GambleAware

Gamble responsibly.

---

Return to Talking Points index  :  Add your Comments »

---

---

How to get rid of these ads and support TW

---