PICKFORD KEEPS TABS ON LIONS’ RIVALS
JORDAN PICKFORD has been doing his homework for England’s Group G opener against Tunisia – by going online.
The Everton keeper, who seems certain to start ahead of Three Lions rival Jack Butland on Monday, has been swotting up by using his laptop.
Pickford, 24, said: “I watched the PortugalTunisia friendly before we came out to Russia and Tunisia are a good side.
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“They will be underrated, so we have to be ready, and the same for Panama.
“In both games, we’ll be expected to have a lot of the ball and when we create chances, we have to take them and be ready to defend as well.
“But that’s the good thing about the internet. There’s a lot of stuff on there to go and get your research done.”
Pickford could come up against his former Sunderland team-mate Wahbi Khazri.
He spent last season on loan at Rennes in France but has not played since suffering a thigh injury in April. But he has been taking a full part in training in recent days and expects to be available on Monday.
Khazri, who impressed at the Ligue 1 outfit, is ready to settle for a place on the bench, rather than being pressed into action from the start.
He said: “I am already training with my team-mates. I feel pretty good. I’m happy to go back to work and play.
“I may not be able to play the 90 minutes, but what really matters is that I can help the national team.” Tunisia are rank outsiders to qualify from Group G but Khazri is up for the challenge. He said: “We are aware that we have a really tough group. We know the favourites to advance are Belgium and England. But we have a good team which plays well together.”
If he does get a taste of the action, Pickford will be ready for him.
“I played with Wahbi at Sunderland, so, if I get the nod, I’ve got to be ready for his corners because he doesn’t mind whipping them under the crossbar,” he told ESPN. “He is very good at set-pieces and finishing from outside the box, so I have to be ready.”