England squad...

That's a pretty impressive squad. It'll be a travesty if we don't do well.

 

Excellent squad.

 

Bit like us missing the playoffs

 

I think the surprise inclusion may well be Wharton, I feel bad for Nick Pope who was having a great season before his injury, but I still feel like the goalkeeping situation is England’s biggest problem.

Ramsdale was second choice to Raya and only played six Premier League games.

Pickford was awful for Everton this season (though to be fair so were the rest of them).

Trafford is uncapped and conceded 62 goals this season (plus got relegated with Burnley).

That leaves Henderson as the logical choice, but he couldn’t keep Johnstone out until he got injured. He had a fair season, but only kept 4 clean sheets in 18 appearances.

England have got a real chance this Summer, but I keep pointing out the goalkeeper because when you look at other nation’s first and second choice keepers, England’s seem somewhat mediocre at best:

Germany - Manuel Neuer/Marc Ter Stegen

France - Mike Maignan/Brice Samba

Italy - Gianluigi Donnarumma/Gianluigi Vicario

Spain - Unai Simon/David Raya

Portugal - Rui Patricio/Diogo Costa

Switzerland - Yann Sommer/Gregor Kobel

Serbia - Predrag Rajkovic/Vanja Milinkovic-Savic


Netherlands - Justin Bijlow/Bart Verbruggen

Ukraine - Andriy Lunin/Anatoliy Trubin


It can be argued that Belgium and Croatia have very similar problems to England in the keeper department - after Livakovic (who is great, to be fair), their second choice plays for Pafos in Cyprus and the third choice has one cap and plays for Rijeka. Belgium have Koen Casteels, but then have the awful Mats Sels (Forest) and the bang average Thomas Kaminski (Luton) to take as back up.

@Kalman will have seen more of these keepers as he watches more top flight continental footy than me and I’m sure @Howdentiger2 can weigh in on whether I’m being harsh, but England really need their younger keepers playing top flight football and playing well.

Mind you, it’s not like the Faroese keeper situation is anything to write home about (Mathias Lamhauge isn’t exactly a world beater for B36 and Bárður a Reynártroð should be number one). Still, up to 133 in the world rankings now. We’ve overtaken Latvia, Turkmenistan, Nicaragua and Kuwait. So take that, doubters.

 

Livaković is a good keeper for Fenerbahçe. Not really comfortable playing out from the back, I would say, but a great shot-stopper nonetheless and commands his box well. Honestly, if Pandur becomes nailed on as first choice for us this season and impresses, I wouldn’t be surprised if he becomes second-choice to Livaković.

 

I reckon so, he’s got to be better than somebody playing in the Cypriot First Division.

 

We just need a manager to let them do what they do best and not start off all defensive, playing so as not to concede a goal, not put square pegs in round holes and so on. Sounds familiar.

 

LR's waiting for Southgate's job then?

 

I've seen Pickford named in some Premier League team of the seasons, so not sure about him having an awful season.

 

Pickford has been pretty good this season IMO, but I always feel he's got a rash moment in him and never feel fully confident him.

Pope for me is the best we have, but the injury really hasn't helped. Ramsdale imo has to move clubs this summer if he wants to really compete.

Trafford has potential but he's still very raw

 

Pickfords not the greatest of all time
But hes always played well at tournaments hasnt he

I rate kane massively
Hes a phenom
But to be at that next level he has to do it in a big big game
Club and/or country
Hes never carried a team over the line to a final or in a final

 

Pickford has always played well for us in tournaments and without him Everton would be a lot worse off, for me he's undoubtably England's number 1. Can't say whether Pope is a better GK than him though as haven't really watched him much.

 

I thought Jack Butland at Rangers was nailed on for selection.

Outstanding season at Ibrox...

 

He definitely should've gone as 1 of the 3 when Ramsdale hasn't even been playing and Trafford hasn't had a great season.

 

Definitely an obvious pick more so the fact he’s very out of form and he’ll also be out of position

 

When you have time to reflect you’re not wrong.
The amount of attacking quality that he had at his disposal and all he could muster was 2 home wins in 2024 was ****ing appalling.

 

Yes Ronaldo totally carried Portugal to the 2018 Euro finals then they managed to get over the line without him in the Final

 

That's a very good point TBF

 

Pickford has barely made a mistake for England. I don’t think we have a problem there.

 

I'd be more concerned with the back 4 than the goalkeeper .