Tuchel’s selection of James Trafford prompts fresh questions over Jordan Pickford’s England role
When England head coach Thomas Tuchel chose Leeds United goalkeeper James Trafford to face Spain at Wembley during the last international break, it triggered renewed debate about the long-term security of Jordan Pickford’s place in the team. Tuchel alternated goalkeepers across that window, a move that has intensified scrutiny of England’s goalkeeping options ahead of the next fixtures.
Tuchel used Trafford in the 3-2 loss to Spain and the subsequent victory against the Czech Republic, before Pickford returned for the Wembley win against the Czechs and the 7-0 rout in Croatia. Tuchel has stated Pickford remains England’s number one, yet he has suggested he may again rotate the two keepers in the upcoming internationals. England meet Croatia at Wembley on Thursday and then play Spain in Madrid on Sunday, fixtures that will test Tuchel’s selection approach.
Pickford’s England record since his debut in a 0-0 draw with Germany at Wembley in 2017 remains substantial: he has 93 appearances, 46 clean sheets, a 74% save ratio and only two errors leading to goals. Pickford’s caps include 80 competitive matches and 33 at major tournaments — 19 at World Cups and 14 at European Championships — and he was part of squads that reached World Cup semi-finals in 2018 and 2026 and consecutive European Championship finals at the delayed 2020 tournament and Euro 2024.
Trafford’s international career is still at an early stage: he has four caps, two of them competitive. He moved to Leeds United from Manchester City in the summer in a British record deal for a goalkeeper that could be worth up to £45m, following a £23m move to City from Burnley the previous summer, and had his immediate pathway at Manchester City altered by the signing of Gianluigi Donnarumma.
Former England goalkeeper Paul Robinson defended the decision to give Trafford game time and argued it represents sensible forward planning. Robinson told BBC Sport: "It obviously remains to be seen what Thomas Tuchel does in these two England games, but I could see exactly what he was doing by giving James Trafford game time in the last round of matches." He also said: "This is a match made in heaven." Robinson added context on Pickford’s status: "Jordan is England's first choice, in my opinion, rightfully so given his consistency and performances over such a long period."
Robinson cited club form to bolster Pickford’s standing, noting that since the start of the 2024-25 season only David Raya has more clean sheets in the league, with Raya on 39 and Pickford on 27. He also outlined the broader goalkeeper landscape, saying: "If you rewind back 18 or 24 months, you had Nick Pope, Sam Johnstone, James Trafford, Dean Henderson, Aaron Ramsdale and Jordan Pickford - a real plethora of England goalkeepers. Now Nick Pope is not playing at Newcastle United, Sam Johnstone's not in the equation and Aaron Ramsdale is nowhere near." On Ramsdale he said: "I find Aaron Ramsdale's situation very sad because I believe he's a goalkeeper able to play at the top level."
Robinson emphasised Trafford’s potential while reaffirming Pickford’s current primacy and the need for contingency planning. He noted Trafford has only played 42 Premier League games and one Champions League game and said: "He has the potential be England's future number one, which Tuchel clearly sees him to be." Robinson concluded: "For now, though, if there is a conversation to be had about England's goalkeepers, then Jordan Pickford and James Trafford is that conversation, with Jordan still very much the number one right now as far as I'm concerned."
Tuchel’s willingness to share minutes between Pickford and Trafford means the upcoming matches against Croatia at Wembley on Thursday and Spain in Madrid on Sunday will provide further evidence of how the England goalkeeping hierarchy will be managed in the short term.