Jamie Redknapp has demoted Jordan Pickford to his third-choice England goalkeeper as he names his ideal World Cup lineup.
The Three Lions kick off their campaign in Qatar next Monday when they take on Iran, before meetings with the USA and Wales and hopeful progression into the latter parts of the knockout stages. Gareth Southgate named his 26-man travelling party on Thursday afternoon, confirming that Toffees duo Jordan Pickford and Conor Coady will be on the plane to the Middle East.
Blues goalkeeper Pickford has been England's undisputed No.1 since the last World Cup in 2018, starring as his country reached the semi-finals in Russia before losing to Italy on penalties in the delayed European Championship finals last summer. Despite that, he has faced regular criticism from rival fans disputing his place as Southgate's first-choice.
The 28-year-old was at fault for the opening goal in Saturday's 3-1 defeat at Bournemouth, spilling Dominic Solanke's shot into the path of Marcus Tavernier, but has been one of the standout players at Goodison Park since the start of last season. Frank Lampard's arrival in January and the relegation fight that followed saw Pickford take on a leadership role within the squad and show a maturity that had previously been missing.
For the next six weeks, he will face competition from Arsenal's Aaron Ramsdale and Newcastle United stopper Nick Pope for his No.1 spot, and despite two brilliant previous tournaments and an excellent level of consistency at club level former Liverpool midfielder Redknapp has put the Everton man as third choice.
Redknapp opted to start Pope in goal, and told Sky Sports : "I’m picking this team, first day of the tournament. I just pick Pope, Ramsdale over Pickford. The back-four I want to be attacking, we haven’t had players in form, Harry Maguire’s not had enough football, Dier isn’t in the best of form but that’s the best back four I can think of right now [Tripper, Dier, Stones, Shaw], Trent is one that could’ve been in there."
Of the five pundits on air, Redknapp was the only one to drop Pickford, with Gary Neville, Jamie Carragher and Karen Carney all starting the Everton man for England's opening game against Iran next Monday.
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