Everton
Pickford’s game in numbers vs Colombia – Why the Everton star could become the best in the PL
Why Jordan Pickford can become the best goalkeeper in the Premier League
England are through to the World Cup quarterfinals after winning a penalty shoot-out against Colombia. A penalty from Harry Kane had England ahead before Yerry Mina scored in the closing moments of the injury time to take the game to extra-time.
The penalty-shootout was a moment to remember for young goalkeeper Jordan Pickford. The Everton goalkeeper was the hero for the Three Lions in a week where he has been under scrutiny.
Former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger suggested the goalkeeper might be the weak link in this England team, which followed on from Thibaut Courtois firing another shot when he failed to stop Adnan Januzaj’s curling goal for Belgium last week.
Jordan Pickford
But Pickford proved his detractors wrong on Tuesday, making an extraordinary save off Carlos Bacca to help earn England a vital shoot-out win. A moment like this from the young man can go down in history as one of his finest moments, along with Eric Dier’s decisive kick.
Well, Pickford wasn’t supposed to be a World Cup hero this early. In fact, he found himself way down the pecking order for the England No.1 shirt just a year ago. Coming into this World Cup, England was facing a bit of dilemma in the goalkeeping position.
Joe Hart, England’s undisputed No.1 in goal for a long time, had a dismal campaign on loan at West Ham from Manchester City and was rightfully axed from the World Cup squad. Credit to manager Gareth Southgate for taking such a bold decision but England’s other options in goal were far from being reliable.
Fraser Forster continues to be error-prone, Jack Butland was good but couldn’t save Stoke City from relegation, and Nick Pope had an excellent breakthrough campaign for Burnley but is a novice when it comes to the international stage. Considering everything, Southgate has gone with Pickford as England’s No.1 in goal and the Everton man has so far repaid the faith.
Jordan Pickford
Pickford, who had a mixed bag in his debut Everton campaign, received his 7th cap against Colombia after full backing from Southgate.
At 6ft 1in, the 24-year-old isn’t the most commanding of figures in goal and is prone to get bullied by physical opponents in the box. But he stood tall against Colombia, clutching the balls in the air with utmost east and coming off the line quickly whenever required.
At one moment, it seemed England were heading home as Jordan Henderson missed his spot-kick but Pickford did enough to unsettle Colombia’s fourth taker, Mateus Uribe, whose powerful shot came off the crossbar.
And then Pickford made a clutch save to deny Bacca, becoming the first English goalkeeper since David Seaman in 1998 to do so at a World Cup shootout. Dier then converted his spot-kick that set the England fans in jubilation.
England slayed the demons of their manager Southgate and Euro 1996, and Pickford turned out to be the real architect of the script.
Read more: Go for it Silva – Everton must surely hijack Crystal Palace’s move for this English World Cup star
Pickford’s strong mentality, coupled with his high ability and calibre has since made him his country’s No.1. The Everton shot-stopper is a sublime talent and has all the tools to become the best in the Premier League.
Everton’s Hill Dickinson Stadium has been included in the United Kingdom’s bid to host the 2035 Women’s World Cup, marking another major tournament for the venue that opened just six months ago.
The announcement on Friday confirms the waterfront stadium’s rapid emergence as one of England’s most versatile sporting venues, following its selection as a host for the 2028 European Championships.
More than football – Hill Dickinson Stadium pic.twitter.com/fb3P8buPc3
— Everton (@Everton) May 16, 2025
Stadium Already Proving Major Money Spinner
Colin Chong, Everton’s Chief Real Estate and Regeneration Officer, highlighted the stadium’s transformative impact on Liverpool as a global destination. “Hill Dickinson Stadium continues to underline its significance not only for our Club, but for the future prosperity of Liverpool as a world-class destination for major sporting and cultural events,” Chong stated.
The venue has already hosted rugby league fixtures and secured the 2026 Magic Weekend after beating Newcastle United to the event. These developments align perfectly with The Friedkin Group’s vision when they purchased the club last year, with the new stadium proving a game-changer for Everton’s finances.
“Recent and upcoming events—from the Rugby League Ashes Test to Super League Magic Weekend and UEFA EURO 2028—showcase the transformative impact the stadium can have on our city: generating economic benefit and opportunity, raising Liverpool’s global profile, and welcoming visitors from around the world to our waterfront,” Chong added.
Liverpool City Council Back Bid
Liverpool City Council leader Cllr Liam Robinson expressed delight at the inclusion. “We’re delighted to be part of this historic bid to stage the biggest single-sport event in UK history. If we are successful in securing host city status once again—following the UEFA EURO 2028 announcement—it would bring long-term social and economic benefits to our region while shining a light on everything that makes Liverpool special.”
The council remains engaged in discussions to improve infrastructure and transport links around the stadium. With significant money flowing into the city from these major events, local authorities recognize the economic importance of supporting the venue’s continued development.
Just six months after opening, the Hill Dickinson Stadium is rapidly establishing itself as a benchmark for event delivery in the region.
Read more: Manchester United Push to Host 2035 Women’s World Cup Final at New £2bn Stadium Instead of Wembley
Everton
“Hazel Eyes, Red Hair, 5ft 4in” – The Shocking 1976 Liverpool vs. Everton Women’s Programme That Listed Players By Eye Colour
A 50-year-old match programme from the Liverpool versus Everton women’s charity match reveals just how far the game has progressed, with players described by their hair colour, eye colour and height rather than their footballing ability.
The programme from November 28, 1976, featured wives and girlfriends of Liverpool‘s legendary players in a friendly charity fundraiser dubbed the “Petticoat Derby” by local newspapers. Sue Neal (Phil Neal’s wife), Jean Keegan (Kevin Keegan’s wife) and Barbara Hughes (Emlyn Hughes’ wife) were listed as: “Age 25, hair red, eyes hazel, height 5ft 4in,” “Age 22, hair blonde, eyes blue, height 5ft 4in,” and “Age 28, hair brown, eyes green, height 5ft 3in” respectively.
A Snapshot of a Different Era
Football historian Steve Bolton purchased the programme on eBay and was struck by how dated it appears by modern standards. “Can you imagine England stars like Hannah Hampton, Beth Mead or Millie Bright being labelled in a match day programme today by their eye colour, hair colour and height?” Bolton asks. “It was just a different time back then.”
The match raised hundreds of pounds for charity and was watched by Merseyside legends including John Toshack and Mick Lyons. Sue Neal scored the only goal from 30 yards in Liverpool’s 1-0 victory.
The FA’s 50-Year Ban
The programme represents a transitional period for women’s football. After World War One, women’s teams played friendlies for charities in front of large crowds. But the FA banned matches at its members’ grounds in 1921, claiming they were “unsuitable for females.” That ban lasted until 1971, just five years before this match.
Bolton, who became a historian after discovering his grandmother Lizzy Ashcroft was a great player after World War One, now owns one of the best collections of women’s football memorabilia in private hands. His collection includes programmes dating back to 1921 from every decade since.
“By modern attitudes it is very dated and sexist,” Bolton admits. “However, it is a thing of its time and it is a little piece of history.”
Also read: Manchester United Push to Host 2035 Women’s World Cup Final at New £2bn Stadium Instead of Wembley
Asmir Begovic is a Bosnian professional football player who plays as a goalkeeper for EFL Championship club Leicester City and for the Bosnian national team and in this article, we will see more about the player’s Net Worth, Salary, Sponsors, Wife, Tattoos, Cars, and more.
Asmir Begovic joined the Premier League club Everton from Italian club AC Milan in 2021. He is a talented and experienced goalkeeper who has established himself as one of the best in the Premier League and Europe. He is currently the backup goalkeeper for the English keeper Jordan Pickford at Everton.
Asmir represents Bosnia and Herzegovina’s national team and has been a great leader for the team with experience over 50 appearances for the national team. Let us get to know more about the player’s profile in the following paragraphs.
Asmir Begovic’s Net Worth and Salary
Asmir is a young player and footballing has contributed much to his earnings. The player’s net worth is estimated to be £22 m as of 2026. The market value of the player in 2026 is valued at €3.00m by Transfermarkt. He currently earns a salary of £676,000 per year playing for Leicester City.
Asmir Begovic Club Career
Asmir began his career at Portsmouth, before moving to Stoke City in 2010. He spent five seasons with the Potters, becoming their first-choice goalkeeper and earning a reputation as one of the best shot-stoppers in the Premier League.
In 2015, Begovic joined Chelsea as a backup to Thibaut Courtois, but still managed to make over 50 appearances for the club across all competitions, including starting in the Premier League and Champions League. He then moved on to AFC Bournemouth in 2017, where he played for two seasons before joining AC Milan in 2019.
After a loan period with AC Milan for 6 months, he joined the Premier League club Everton on 20 July 2021 on a 12-month contract with an option to extend for a further year. He made his premier league for Everton debut against Aston Villa on 18 September 18 and the match resulted in a 3-0 loss. The footballer moved to Leicester City for the 2025 EFL Championship season.
Asmir Begovic International Career
Begovic has represented Bosnia and Herzegovina since 2008, earning over 50 caps and serving as their captain. He played a crucial role in their qualification for the 2014 FIFA World Cup, their first major tournament as an independent nation.
After the World Cup, Begovic continued to be a regular starter for the national team, helping them qualify for the 2016 European Championship and the 2018 FIFA World Cup. He was also appointed as the team’s captain, a role he held for several years. The goalkeeper was a part of the national team for 11 years.
Asmir Begovic Family
Asmir was born on 20 June 1987 in Trebinje, SR Bosnia and Herzegovina, Yugoslavia. His parents are Amir and Ajnija Begovic. His father Amir, was also a goalkeeper who played for Leotar and Iskra Bugojno whilst his mother, Ajnija, hails from Stolac.
The Begović family fled the Bosnian War to Germany when Asmir was four years old, where he began to play organized football with the local youth club FC Kirchhausen in Heilbronn. When he was 10, his family moved to Edmonton in Canada. Throughout Asmirs football career, they have always supported him both mentally and financially.
Asmir Begovic’s Wife – Nicolle Begovic
Asmir Begovic is married to Nicolle Begovic. She is a dedicated equestrian athlete with a resolute approach and commitment to the much-loved sport of Dressage. With a strong commitment and high expectations of the sport to which she has dedicated herself full-time, Nicolle demands high expectations of herself and her approach to the discipline she loves with a passion. The couple also has two daughters. the name of the eldest daughter is Taylor. The youngest one’s name is not available.
Asmir Begovic Sponsors and Endorsements
The Goalkeeper has not been seen endorsing any company on his social media accounts. But Asmir is the founder of the Asmir Begovic Foundation. This is a non-profit organization that has been created to help needy children. It also helps to build and rebuild recreational facilities in England and Bosnia.
Asmir Begovic Cars and Tattoos
Asmir Begovic has been spotted driving a Jeep in the streets of Bournemouth. Unlike many footballers, the player seems not fond of tattooing his body.
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