Jordan Pickford's top five England games

From being the hero in penalty shootouts to helping England to starring in some of the great World Cup games, Jordan Pickford has experienced it all.

Here, he talks through five of his most memorable matches for the Three Lions.

England 0-0 Germany, November 2017

One of five players to make their senior bow at Wembley – and one of three named in the starting line-up – Pickford was handed his debut by Gareth Southgate nine years ago and kept a clean sheet to mark his first appearance.

“My debut was unreal,” said Pickford. “Probably one of the only times I’ve felt nervous going into a game. I’d worked towards that lifelong dream and finally making it was incredible.

“Making two saves early on – I know it was a friendly but against Germany – it was a great experience. It was a great start. All we were missing was the win.

“I got told two or three days before the game – normally you don’t get told until the day before that you’re playing, what the team is. It was nice to get told early enough so my family could organise coming down.”

Colombia 1-1 England (3-4 penalties), July 2018

The stopper played his part in England’s World Cup first shootout success as the Three Lions reached the quarter-final of 2018 edition. It all came down to penalties after Colombia netted a late equaliser and Pickford made a big save in the shootout as Southgate’s side progressed.

“It was one of those games where you had to be there,” he recalled. “I remember the penalty and the players – Yerry Mina, I played at Everton with.

“The penalty shootout speaks for itself – me making the save against Carlos Bacca and Eric finishing the game off with the winning pen. It was a mad version of events. The emotion high – it was like, ‘I need to calm down because Eric needs to execute his pen’ which he did.

“To be the first England team to win a penalty shootout in so many years, it was special and it gave us that belief because it was the first knockout game. We knew how big it was. I thought that was our time that we were going to go and kick on.”

Spain 2-3 England, October 2018

A first win in Spain since February 1987 came at the home of Real Betis and Pickford – who was the recipient of goalscorer Sergio Ramos’ shirt at the end of the game – recalled how England’s opponents kept coming as the Three Lions got a historic result over the line in Seville.

“I remember Gareth talking about if we want to be a top nation in the world and be ranked the number one team in the world, we’re going to have to go to these places and start winning,” said Pickford. “We were still that team who were developing into the team we wanted to be.

“We were playing unbelievable football. I’ll never forget Eric Dier’s tackle on Ramos – it just got us going and it was one of the best tackles I’ve ever seen. I remember getting an assist, too.”

Switzerland 0-0 England (5-6 penalties), June 2019

The keeper, who is usually saving spot-kicks, found himself on the other side of the white line when he stepped up to convert his penalty – while also keeping one out – in the UEFA Nations League third-place play-off.

“I knew I was executing penalties really well in training, in the warm-up and preparation – I’ll always take them when we were in tournaments or cup matches,” he explained.

“I think I was number six and it was a great feeling, hitting the back of the net. I know Harry Kane and all the other lads do it a lot more regularly but for me to do it – the only time taking a penalty so far in my career – it was a great moment.

“To finish off with making a save, as well, it was another man of the match award.”

"And Pickford wins it!" 👏 @JPickford1 made the decisive save as the #ThreeLions beat Switzerland to finish third in the inaugural #NationsLeague. We'll meet again in March at @wembleystadium. https://t.co/5dwunHGt3G

— England (@England) January 18, 2022

Mexico 2-3 England, July 2026

A victory that will go down as one of England’s greatest World Cup games, the Three Lions knocked out the FIFA World Cup 2026 co-hosts in front of a sold-out crowd, overcoming adversity to advance with ten men in a last 16 thriller in Mexico City. And it is a fixture that will take some beating for Pickford – England's most-capped player at the tournament.

“It was mega,” he said. “I knew it was us eleven versus 90,000 and I knew what type of game it was going to be. There aren’t many times in your career you’re going to go and play in the Azteca in a World Cup.

“Everyone was talking about the altitude – I’ve always been able to kick the ball far but to do it in Mexico, it felt like the ball wasn’t going to stop when I was kicking it!

“Making big saves – the two Jiménez headers in the first half were great – coming for crosses. I’d say me commanding my box was a big part in that game that got us over the line.

“The game had everything. Suffering in a good way to get the result was amazing and something we’ll look back on when we’re retired and go, ‘what a game that was’.”