Pickford in spotlight against Croatia with England position under threat from Trafford

For England’s first meeting with Luka Modric you have to go back 20 years. Croatia were managed by Slaven Bilic, who has returned for a second spell in charge of the national team, and dominated in Zagreb. They eased to a 2-0 win, Steve McClaren’s doomed attempt to qualify for Euro 2008 took a turn for the worse and, as well as Modric giving England’s midfield the runaround, the game was remembered best for a horror mistake from the Three Lions No 1.

Paul Robinson must have wanted the ground to swallow him up when he kicked at thin air and let Gary Neville’s backpass bobble into the net. Robinson, his aura diminished, never really recovered. The goalkeeper made 10 more appearances but after another crucial error against Russia in October 2007, he never won another cap.

Related: Bilic is back: bravery and belief underpin second coming as Croatia manager

Goalkeepers live a fragile existence. Joe Hart experienced a sharp decline and Jordan Pickford is under real pressure for the first time since becoming No 1 just before the 2018 World Cup. James Trafford played the first two of England’s games in Nations League Group A3 and did well against Spain and Czechia. However, Pickford will return when England face Croatia and Modric in Rijeka on Saturday evening. Thomas Tuchel has divided the games. Pickford is due to continue when England close this camp by hosting Czechia on Tuesday.

Tuchel’s explanation is that he wanted to test Trafford against elite opposition. He says Pickford has done nothing wrong. The 32-year-old has helped England reach two major finals and shone in shootout wins over Colombia [at the 2018 World Cup] and Switzerland [at Euro 2024].

Pickford will win his 92nd cap against Croatia and has broken Peter Shilton’s record for England appearances at the World Cup. He made the save of the 2025-26 Premier League season, pushing a vicious Sandro Tonali volley over during Everton’s win against Newcastle last February.

Yet the threat from Trafford is real, not least because Pickford wobbled last summer. He was skittish in possession. He was beaten too easily for one goal when England defeated Croatia 4-2 in their opening game. He allowed Brian Cipenga’s goal for the Democratic Republic of the Congo in at his near post; he let Andreas Schjelderup’s cross sail in against Norway.

The counter is that Pickford excelled against Mexico. But his performance in the semi-final defeat by Argentina was a disappointment. Enzo Fernández kept trying his luck from distance. Fernández found the mark with his fourth effort, drawing Argentina level, and the cameras caught Jude Bellingham appearing to say the midfielder’s shot was “in the middle of the goal”.

Pickford was measured on the Fernández goal before meeting Croatia in a game that will go a long way towards deciding whether England reach next year’s Nations League finals. “I tried to scan for the ball,” he said. “There were a lot of bodies in front. He’s got a free touch and shot. It just went away from me. The balls were moving fast over there.

“You know if you could have done better. There’s always going to be questions but I think if you’re not a goalkeeping expert then you won’t know what you’re talking about. If I stood three yards to the right and Fernández passes it in low left, you’re going to get questioned no matter what.”

Pickford, who also stood down for Dean Henderson when England beat France in the bronze medal match, shuts out the noise. He had a three-hour session with his mind-work coach on Thursday night. Pickford respects the competition from Trafford but he also sat out two consecutive games when Southgate gave Aaron Ramsdale a chance in the Nations League in 2022.

Tuchel said that Pickford was still his No 1. An intriguing factor is how England build play. Fifa’s report on the World Cup shows goalkeepers becoming more important in helping sides beat the press. Pickford has a powerful kick and played a lot of long balls during the World Cup. “This is a big strength of Jordan because he has a wide range,” Tuchel said, but there were moments when England’s manager looked exasperated with the goalkeeper going long. Trafford at one point baited the press and played an eye-of-the-needle pass to Lewis Hall during last Tuesday’s win over Czechia in Prague.

The competition is on. England and Croatia played out a goalless draw behind closed doors in Rijeka in 2018. Saturday’s game at Stadion HNK Rijeka, which holds 8,279 spectators, is also supposed to take place without fans – punishment for racism during Croatia’s Nations League game against France last year – but is expected to unfold in front of 100 England fans and between 5,000 and 6,000 local children.

Those present will see whether Modric can inspire Croatia after he scored in last week’s win over Czechia and came off the bench during Tuesday’s 4-1 defeat in Spain. They will find out whether England, second behind Spain after losing to the world champions last weekend, can hit the levels they reached in the second half against Croatia at the World Cup. Does Tuchel stick with Trent Alexander-Arnold and let the right-back build an understanding with Bukayo Saka? With Declan Rice missing does Myles Lewis-Skelly continue alongside Elliot Anderson in midfield? Or does Alex Scott get a chance?

There was a little warning for Rice. “Is Declan still a fix point in my team?” Tuchel wondered. “Yes, but some other players are coming and impressing.” Nowhere is that more apparent than in goal. Pickford has to respond.