Jordan Pickford guides England into World Cup semifinal vs Argentina

England’s record‑breaking goalkeeper Jordan Pickford entered the 2026 World Cup semifinal against Argentina after a quarter‑final win over Norway. Pickford, who has surpassed Peter Shilton as England’s most‑capped World Cup player, was praised for his distribution and shot‑stopping throughout the tournament, though he faced criticism for a lapse against Norway in the previous round.

Ahead of the match, the Argentine staff discovered a sheet Pickford had prepared with each opponent’s penalty‑taking tendencies, a detail that proved unnecessary as Argentina secured a 2‑1 victory in regular time. The sheet read, in French, “feinte à gauche, plonge à droite” for Lionel Messi. Off the pitch, Pickford’s family – wife Megan Pickford and their three children – continued to draw media attention, with Megan’s fashion choices and social‑media posts becoming a staple of tournament coverage.