Fabio Capello criticises Jordan Pickford as England's weak link ahead of Euro 2024 | OneFootball

@mattmajendie

Fabio Capello has questioned the quality of England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford and their central defenders ahead of Euro 2024.

And the former England manager warned the national team were guilty of freezing with fear on the biggest stage.

Capello admitted England would be among the favourites for this summer’s tournament and praised them for having the best attack in the world.

But he said they were in danger of being undone by weaknesses at the back.

“I like England,” he said. “It’s really strong in every part of the team, their midfielders and forwards the best: Bellingham, Kane, Saka.

“I think at centre back [there’s] some problems and it’s not the same level as the other part of the team. Midfield is good, forwards are really good, right and left defenders is good. I have some doubts about these two centre backs and some doubts about the goalkeeper.”

Opening up on Pickford, he said: “Sometimes, he’s really, really good. Sometimes, it is the problem.”

Pickford will almost certainly be England’s first-choice goalkeeper in Germany

The FA via Getty Images

Capello cited the example of the last Euros final where hosts England lost to Italy, pointing to a propensity of England’s No1 to hoof the ball clear rather than play with any confidence at the back.

“I saw the game that they lost against Italy, the final at Wembley,” he added. “After 20 minutes, he started to shoot long ball. Is this fear?”

England reached the semi-finals of the 2018 World Cup where they lost to Croatia before going on to lose to the Azzurri at the subsequent Euros. And back in 2022, they were knocked out by eventual World Cup runners-up France.

And Laureus ambassador Capello said: “The last game that they played I liked - fight, pressing. But the problem is when they arrive at the moment to win they play with fear sometimes.”