England's 2022 World Cup Goalkeepers
Every nation will take at least three goalkeepers to the World Cup.
Which keepers England boss Gareth Southgate would select has arguably been the least-debated of the positional issues within the squad for Qatar, with the only serious consideration being whether on-loan Nottingham Forest number one Dean Henderson might force his way in.
However, Southgate has opted for the three most pundits predicted - a trio who have excelled for their clubs in the Premier League in recent seasons.
We start with the man Southgate has relied on most between the sticks throughout his time as national boss...
Jordan Pickford
Everton
Caps: 45 (0 goals)
Born: 7 March 1994 in Washington, Tyne and Wear
Debut: Germany (friendly) on 10 November 2017
Pickford has been Southgate's go-to number one during the two major tournaments of his tenure so far, playing every game at both the 2018 World Cup in Russia and the Covid-delayed 2020 European Championship finals, played across the continent in the summer of 2021.
It is hard to fault his record in those two events, with England reaching the semi-finals in the former before losing to Italy on penalties in the final of the latter.
During the tournament in Russia, his brilliant save to deny Carlos Bacca helped his country to their first ever penalty shootout victory at a World Cup - 4-3 against Colombia in the last 16.
He would go one better in a shootout in the inaugural Nations League finals in June 2019, saving and scoring a penalty to help England beat Switzerland and finish third.
At the Euros finals in 2021, he became the first goalkeeper to keep a clean sheet in each of his first five games of a European Championship.
He saved two penalties in the shootout in the final, but it was not enough for victory, with Italy prevailing 3-2 after the Three Lions missed their last three spot-kicks.
As with any goalkeeper, Pickford has made costly errors, with his most vocal critics claiming he makes too many to be first choice for England.
However, his club form in recent seasons has been excellent, with his heroics contributing heavily to Everton remaining in the Premier League in 2021-22. This was recognised in him being awarded the club's Player of the Season award. In 2022-23, he has again been first choice for his club, missing just two league matches because of a thigh injury in September.
Nick Pope
Newcastle United
Caps: 10 (0 goals)
Born: 19 April 1992 in Soham
Debut: Costa Rica (friendly) on 7 June 2018
Southgate's faith in Pickford has limited the opportunities afforded to other goalkeepers, including Pope, who has seen his 10 caps to date spread over a four-year international career.
Most of his early appearances were in friendlies, but an injury to Pickford enabled him to get a run of three World Cup qualifiers in March 2021. It was in the second of these fixtures - a 2-0 win over Albania - that Pope became the first England goalkeeper to keep a clean sheet in his first six appearances for his country.
Most recently, he started the Nations League games with Italy and Germany in September, technically making him the man in possession of the Three Lions number one shirt.
Pope built his reputation over six seasons at Burnley, helping the Clarets remain in the Premier League until they suffered relegation on the final day of the 2021-22 season.
While the Clarets dropped to the Championship, he remained in the Premier League, courtesy of a summer move to Newcastle, for whom he has excelled this season.
He has started all of the club's league matches so far in 2022-23 to help them challenge at the top end of the Premier League table.
Aaron Ramsdale
Arsenal
Caps: 3 (0 goals)
Born: 14 May 1998 in Stoke-on-Trent
Debut: San Marino (World Cup qualifier) on 15 November 2021
The youngest and least experienced goalkeeper in Southgate's squad, Ramsdale's international career is less than a year old and he has just three caps.
His Three Lions career began with an easy gig - a 10-0 away win at San Marino - but his most recent international experience is one he will want to forget, with him starting the 4-0 home loss to Hungary in the Nations League last June.
While his senior England career has been short thus far, Ramsdale has a healthy back catalogue of caps for his country at age-group level, from under-18 through to under-21.
He is also building an impressive Premier League CV, making his English top-flight debut as a 21-year-old at the start of the 2019-20 season in which he was first choice for Bournemouth as they were relegated.
A subsequent move back to first club Sheffield United would only see more disappointment, as they too dropped out of the Premier League at the end of 2020-21.
Ramsdale, though, continues to flourish, excelling as first-choice for an Arsenal side currently challenging at the very summit of the English top flight.
