How Thomas Tuchel 'surprised' Jordan Pickford after breaking England record

England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford was reportedly surprised by manager Thomas Tuchel's decision to rotate James Trafford into the starting lineup for recent Nations League matches. The move has sparked speculation about the future of the long-standing number one goalkeeper.
Why it matters
The decision marks a potential shift in England's national football team strategy, impacting a high-profile player's career trajectory.
Everton star Jordan Pickford continues to face questions over his number one shirt with England.
The 32-year-old has held the role for nearly 10 years after Gareth Southgate showed faith in his talents.
That certainly paid off at the 2018 World Cup and has continued to do so ever since.
Some complaints were aimed towards the Toffees man in the summer as his World Cup performances came under fire.
Those haven't totally gone away and have actually been furthered by Thomas Tuchel in this international break.
And a call from the England boss seemingly caught Pickford off guard as details emerge.
How Jordan Pickford reacted to James Trafford pick for England
The Nations League has been the focus of this extended break.
The Three Lions have lined up against Croatia, Spain and Czechia as part of their group.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in