Everton news: Agbonlahor lambasts Jordan Pickford as ‘100%’ footage emerges
Gabby Agbonlahor has suggested Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford was partly to blame for England’s 2-1 defeat to France in the World Cup quarter-finals on Saturday (10 December).
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the ex-Aston Villa and England attacker claimed Pickford could have done better with his attempt to save Aurelien Tchouameni’s opening goal.
Tchouameni launched a long-range effort that went through the legs of Jude Bellingham and beat the goalkeeper on his right-hand side.
England pulled France back with a Harry Kane penalty before they regained the lead through an Olivier Giroud header towards the end.
Asked whether Pickford should have done better with Tchouameni’s shot, Agbonlahor told Football Insider correspondent Connor Whitley: “Yes, 100 per cent.
“When I looked at the first one, after every replay I saw, I thought he had to move his feet a bitter quicker.
“With the distance that the shot was taken from, it wasn’t a thunderbolt. Yes, it was in the corner but I think a lot of keepers save that. The fact that he is a small keeper didn’t help.
“I think that’s the first time I’ve seen him get found out by an effort.
“Someone like Courtois saves that. I think Nick Pope saves that.
“It was a disappointing goal to concede.”
Pickford made his England debut in November 2017 and has started all of their major tournament games since the start of the 2018 World Cup.
The 28-year-old earned his 50th cap in the quarter-final defeat to France in Doha.
In other news, Kieran Maguire has claimed that an Everton deal is close as investors visit Bramley-Moore and “it’s real progress”.