Pickford believes England is capable of handling any situation.

Another key match in the Round of 36 of the 2026 World Cup will take place, with Tuchel leading England against the Democratic Republic of Congo. Everton's Pickford stated that even if the game goes to extra time or penalties, he remains confident that the team's cohesion allows them to handle any situation.

In the third round of the group stage, England defeated Panama 2-0 thanks to goals from Bellingham and Kane, and successfully advanced to the round of 32 as the group winner.

When asked if there had been any changes in the Three Lions, England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford said, "There's a strong belief and a cohesive team. I think we had those before, but now the manager has given us more trust. Every time the manager holds a meeting, he makes you feel ready to go into battle, and he instills that belief in the players."

"Whether it's a tactical meeting or other communication, it gives the players a sense that, well, the real moment has arrived. Our goals are completely aligned; we all want to achieve our ultimate dream. And every player on this team is currently in good form and is at a great stage of their careers."

Pickford shared, “This is part of my ongoing growth and the effort to become the best version of myself. I set goals with the people who help me, all to become the best version of myself and see where that can take me. We know where this journey can take us, and the most important thing is to believe in that and be true to yourself.”

It is worth noting that Germany and the Netherlands, who were considered favorites in this tournament, both went to penalty shootouts in the round of 32 and were ultimately eliminated by their opponents.

Pickford said, “We hope to win within 90 minutes, but whatever happens, we will be a team ready to do everything and fight for victory. If the game goes to extra time or penalties, we are equally capable. We have players on the bench who can change the game, and our team cohesion is at a very high level, which is why we are here. We are here to accomplish something.”

"We know that the Democratic Republic of Congo is a very tough team to play against, and we also know that many African teams have successfully advanced to the knockout stage in this World Cup. We must be prepared to meet the challenges they bring, and more importantly, we need to see how we perform. We will take the initiative to challenge them."

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