England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford says his side are ready to stay composed in the heat of Wednesday’s World Cup semi-final against Argentina, insisting the pressure won’t derail their focus.
Composure and discipline as England chase a first final since 1966
Pickford believes England have set the right tone across the tournament, particularly in how they handle tense moments during matches. Speaking at England’s training base in Kansas City, he pointed to an approach that prioritises winning challenges without letting games spill into confrontations.
He said the squad’s mindset has been clear throughout the competition: “You’ve seen throughout the tournament our desire to win tackles. We’ve not got into any scuffles or anything. We’ve been very well respected within the game. Decisions go our way, they don’t go our way, we just reset, we go again and we let the football do the talking.”
Pickford added that England have managed to avoid disciplinary problems, aside from a single major incident. He referenced Jarell Quansah’s red card in Mexico as the exception, while stressing that the team have not accumulated a series of suspensions or further sanction-related issues.
- England have focused on winning tackles without getting involved in scuffles.
- Pickford believes the team remain calm after refereeing decisions go against them.
- Aside from Jarell Quansah’s red card in Mexico, England have not had suspensions.
- He also said England have avoided second yellow cards during the tournament.
Messi in the spotlight, but Pickford backs England’s own attacking and defensive quality
With the semi-final taking place in Atlanta, Pickford acknowledged that Lionel Messi is likely to dominate the headlines in the build-up. Still, the Everton goalkeeper urged people not to overlook the talent inside England’s squad.
“Everyone will talk about Messi because he’s one of the GOATs,” Pickford said, using the widely recognised term for the greatest of all time. “But you can’t look past the ability and the talent we’ve got in the squad — going forward, defensively, [and] togetherness. We’ve got it all there and that’s what we need to put on a show on Wednesday.”
A rivalry shaped by football flare-ups and geopolitical tensions
Pickford also pointed to the wider atmosphere surrounding England versus Argentina, describing it as one of the sport’s most intense rivalries, influenced by events both on and off the pitch.
He noted the historical context includes a lingering sovereignty dispute over the Falkland Islands, referred to in Spanish as the Malvinas, located in the South Atlantic Ocean — a backdrop that has often fed into the emotional edge of meetings between the two nations.
World Cup history: Maradona’s 1986 masterclass
The most celebrated chapter in the rivalry came at the 1986 World Cup in Mexico, when Argentina beat England 2-1. That match featured two goals from Diego Maradona: the infamous “Hand of God” strike and a second effort, a dazzling solo run, widely regarded as one of the greatest goals ever.
England’s focus: football for 90 minutes, extra time, or penalties
Despite the weight of history, Pickford said the past holds little sway for England as they aim to reach the final of a major tournament for the first time since 1966.
He framed Wednesday’s contest as a straightforward contest of execution and composure, regardless of what unfolds during the match. “It’s us against them to get a place in the final, and it’s a game of football. 90 minutes, 120, penalties,” Pickford said. “We’re ready for anything, and it’s us against them and it’s about who comes out on top. We’re fully prepared for that.”
