Jordan Pickford is England's No 1, says Peter Shilton
Thursday 7 June 2018 23:34, UK
Peter Shilton believes Jordan Pickford should be England's first-choice goalkeeper at the World Cup.
The Everton keeper has been given the England No 1 shirt for the tournament rather than Jack Butland and Nick Pope, who have been given the No 13 and 23 jerseys respectively.
Butland played for over an hour of the 2-0 win over Costa Rica at Elland Road before he was replaced by Pope, but Shilton prefers Pickford out of the three.
He told Sky Sports News: "I would go for Pickford, I think he's got a bit of character, he looks intimidating but Jack Butland tonight showed that he's got confidence.
"I think Pickford is a little bit quicker around his feet, big Jack is great on the big stuff but just occasionally he gets done a little bit around his feet. That would be one slight criticism I would make in what is a terrific keeper."
Shilton was England's preferred goalkeeper ahead of Ray Clemence and Joe Corrigan at the 1982 World Cup in Spain and he was asked if there were similarities with this year's trio of keepers.
"I think we probably had a little bit more experience," he said. "I got into the England team 12 years earlier and had to wait until '82 to get my first World Cup.
"But it doesn't mean that just because you're young you can't handle the pressure.
"I think we're going to know about the goalkeepers when they get to the World Cup and the pressure is on, you never know until the big stage."
England fly to Russia on Tuesday on the back of two wins in a week and Shilton had some advice for the 23-man squad.
"Get yourself focused, set your stall out from the minute you get over there," he said.
"Don't let anything distract you, enjoy yourself, relax, have a good team spirit but get yourself focused because this is once every four years. You don't get many chances to go to a World Cup and win it.
"It's great to see some of the lads saying 'we want to win it'.
"It's alright saying that but you've got to have real strength and determination. When it comes to matches it's an 'over my dead body' attitude and that can only come from the heart."
