Pickford: 4-5 years winning fans over
Brad Friedel said Jordan Pickford had won him over in the last 4 to 5 years after initially having reservations early in his career.
Snapshot · The Rest Is Football
Brilliant England battle through Mexico test to the Quarter Finals
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Jul 6, 2026
Where this was said
Jordan Pickford: The Goalkeeper's Goalkeeper
At 14:26 · chapter starts 13:20
Gary Lineker sets up the segment by noting that some had been critical of Pickford before the tournament, then asks for a specialist goalkeeping perspective from Hart and Friedel. Hart immediately identifies the key tell: Pickford's composure meeting a Raul Jimenez header on the half-volley early in the game told him everything about Pickford's mental state for the whole match. [1] — Joe Hart "Joe Hart and Brad Friedel — two former elite goalkeepers — both delivered glowing verdicts on Jordan Pickford's performance. Not pretty, no…" 13:20 Friedel goes further, calling it the best he has ever seen Pickford command his box — every punch correct, every catch secure, distribution brilliant, and waste-time management perfectly calibrated for a hostile environment. Hart adds the crucial context: Pickford is not physically imposing and his 'antics' can put people off, but what wins you over is that he has performed consistently at this level ever since he was at Sunderland, and in the biggest moments he genuinely wants to be the man. Friedel reveals that both he and Lineker had independently predicted Pickford for the Golden Glove before the tournament began, making their praise feel well-founded rather than reactive.
Jordan Pickford: Ugly, Effective, Unbeatable
Joe Hart and Brad Friedel — two former elite goalkeepers — both delivered glowing verdicts on Jordan Pickford's performance. Not pretty, not conventional, but utterly dominant in his box. Friedel said it was the best he'd ever seen Pickford command his area; Hart said in the big moments, Pickford genuinely wants to be the guy — and that is priceless.
Harry Kane equals knockout goals record
Harry Kane equalled Gary Lineker's England record of 6 goals in knockout rounds of major tournaments with his penalty against Mexico.
Harry Kane Equals Gary Lineker's Record
Harry Kane's penalty against Mexico was his sixth goal in knockout rounds of major tournaments, equalling Gary Lineker's England record. Lineker noted it took Kane two more games, and Micah Richards ribbed him mercilessly for constantly referencing his own records.
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