Blogs

Redknapp heaps praise on Pickford after display v Spain

|
Image for Redknapp heaps praise on Pickford after display v Spain

England beat Spain 3-2 on Monday night and Jamie Redknapp heaped praise on Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford, despite a moment of madness that almost cost his side a goal.

With the score at 3-1 in the second-half, Pickford tried to dribble the ball out, got caught in possession and was very lucky not to concede a penalty.

He got away with it though and talking on the Sky Sports coverage of the game (Sky Sports, Monday, 7pm), Redknapp said he had been a “revelation” since becoming England’s number one.

Jamie Carragher started off by saying that Pickford had been “a bit silly. He was looking for a pass and he just got his feet mixed up. Some people might say that’s the price you pay for your goalie playing out from the back but I don’t agree, he’s just got to sort his feet out quicker.”

Redknapp compared Pickford to Liverpool keeper Alisson. “We’ve seen it with Alisson as well but sometimes you just need a bit of luck. He’s been a revelation since he came into the team. It’s proven to be the right decision.”

OPINION

When you’ve got a goalkeeper who plays out from the back you’re always going to get the odd moment like tonight when it almost goes horribly wrong. Alisson did it for Liverpool earlier in the season and didn’t get away with it. Pickford did it for England and shouldn’t have got away with it. When he tried to make amends and pulled the Spanish player back it looked like a blatant penalty and the Spanish players were enraged after the decision that had a huge impact on the game. Pickford isn’t as good as Alisson with the ball at his feet and needs to learn from what happened on Monday night. However he showed that he’s got an incredible range of passing and some of the longer balls he played tonight were things of beauty. He’s rock solid as England’s number one, despite the clanger tonight, and Redknapp is right – he’s been a “revelation”. 

Share this article