NEW YORK, June 30, 2026. David James believes England possess one of international football’s most formidable weapons in Jordan Pickford, as the Three Lions prepare for their World Cup knockout campaign with the Everton goalkeeper in imperious form.
England topped Group L with a 2-0 victory over Panama in New York on Saturday, setting up a last 32 meeting with the Democratic Republic of Congo. But it is the prospect of another penalty shootout that has focused minds, with Thomas Tuchel having predicted earlier in the tournament that his side might need to prevail from the spot to advance .
Pickford, however, has form in such moments. The 32 year old made decisive saves in shootouts at the 2018 World Cup and the 2020 and 2024 European Championships, establishing a reputation as one of the most reliable penalty stoppers in the international game .
‘He’d be buzzing’
James, speaking exclusively to Ladbrokes, suggested Pickford would relish the opportunity should another shootout materialise.
“If England get to the final and it goes to penalties, I think Jordan will be quietly buzzing about it,” the former England goalkeeper said. “People say goalies have nothing to lose but loads to gain. Most people don’t want to get to that position, but at the same time, maybe that’s the luck that we’re looking for. We have one of the best penalty savers in international football.”
Pickford himself offered a similar sentiment over the weekend, acknowledging the preparation that has gone into such moments.
“You’ve got to be prepared,” he said. “It’s tournament football and we prepare ourselves, we push ourselves 110 per cent. Everyone is good at penalties and that’s the standard we set and the confidence we put in each other. It’s my job to make the saves and in tournaments, time and time before, I’ve always come up with a save in a shootout for England and I’ll hopefully continue that.”
A place among the greats
James, who won 53 England caps, placed Pickford second in the pantheon of England goalkeepers behind only Gordon Banks, the 1966 World Cup winner.
“I had an argument with Teddy Sheringham the other day about who is the best keeper to put on an England shirt. He said David Seaman. I think Gordon Banks is the best. He’s the one who’s won something and he was instrumental in getting to the final in ’66,” James said.
“But Jordan Pickford is the only one to play in multiple finals. You look at the Euro 2020 against Italy. What I loved about the final was that Jordan Pickford did literally everything that Donnarumma did in that game. Donnarumma was player of the tournament, but Pickford did exactly the same. I put him up there as number two.”
Pickford, now on 76 caps, has the chance to add substantially to that tally should England progress deep into the tournament. James believes the 100 cap milestone is within reach.
“If I were Jordan Pickford I’d be looking at Peter Shilton’s England appearance record and thinking that’s achievable,” he added.
For now, however, Pickford’s focus remains on the immediate challenge, with England’s last 32 tie against DR Congo looming. “We believe in each other,” he said. “There’s that confidence and they have confidence I can save a penalty and I have confidence they can score them. But we want to be winning the game, we don’t want to go to penalties.”
Reporting by Azuka for Betandsured.com
