Jordan Pickford has expressed his readiness to take a penalty for England if the situation arises during the World Cup. The Everton shot-stopper has been combining his goalkeeping responsibilities with penalty training as the Three Lions prepare for the tournament in the United States, where he hopes to make a significant impact both in goal and potentially from the penalty spot.

Pickford volunteers for penalty duty

The Everton keeper has made it clear that he wouldn’t hesitate to take a penalty for England during the World Cup. Currently training with the squad in Florida, Pickford is part of the final preparations ahead of warm-up fixtures against New Zealand and Costa Rica. In addition to his regular goalkeeping drills, he has been honing his finishing skills in training.

At 32, Pickford already has a notable record in penalty shootouts, having made crucial saves for England at the 2018 World Cup, Euro 2020, and Euro 2024. He also successfully converted a penalty against Switzerland in the 2019 Nations League finals.

Pickford confident from the spot

When asked if he would be willing to take a penalty during the World Cup, Pickford showed complete self-assurance. He told reporters, “Yes. I’d back myself 100 per cent. I’ll put in the practice and deliver when the time comes.”

While he emphasised that his main focus remains on keeping England’s goal secure, he reaffirmed that he would be ready if asked to step up during a knockout shootout.

“I want to stay focused on saving as well,” he explained. “So there’s a balance. If I’m called upon, I play for England — I represent the country — so I’ll step up and take it when required. I’m keeping that work close for now, but we’ll start incorporating it soon.”

England’s trust in Pickford’s composure

Pickford’s composure and technique from 12 yards have earned him consistent trust within the England setup. Former England manager Gareth Southgate praised the goalkeeper’s confidence after his successful penalty against Switzerland in the Nations League.

“With the players left on the pitch, he was one of the top penalty takers and executed it perfectly,” Southgate noted. “We didn’t rule out Jordan taking a penalty at the World Cup in Russia. A few others showed slightly better form, but he was among our strongest options. You always feel a bit of pressure putting a goalkeeper on penalty duty, but he deserved his spot.”

England’s focus shifts to World Cup campaign

The England squad landed in the United States on Monday to begin the final phase of their World Cup preparations. Friendly games against New Zealand and Costa Rica will allow Gareth Southgate’s side to fine-tune strategies before the tournament begins.

The Three Lions are set to kick off their Group L campaign against Croatia in Dallas on June 17, followed by encounters with Ghana on June 23 and Panama on June 27.