IT’S RESERVOIR KEEPERS!
FOUR goalkeepers stride out for England’s last training session of the international get-together, looking like they are recreating the famous scene in cult film Reservoir Dogs. And just as in Quentin Tarantino’s iconic movie, only one man will be left standing at the end as Gareth Southgate uses the last few Premier League games to decide who will be his World Cup No 1. Jordan Pickford has edged ahead of Jack Butland in the race to take the jersey when England begin their campaign against Tunisia on 18 June. The pair were given a game to prove their credentials to Southgate, with Pickford starting in the 1-0 win over Holland and Butland playing in Tuesday’s 1-1 draw with Italy. Southgate insists the race for the gloves is too close to call and much will depend on how the duo finish the season. But it is understood Southgate is leaning towards Everton keeper Pickford, with the England manager believing his superior distribution skills can help him build a philosophy of passing out of defence. Butland could yet change Southgate’s mind with the England boss saying: ‘If we had to play tomorrow I think we know which way we would go but we’ve another eight or 10 league games to go so we have to keep monitoring people to see where they are at confidence-wise because it is very tight.’