There's something special about the bond between Everton and England, and few embody it better than Jordan Pickford and Wayne Rooney.
When the two former teammates sat down for an exclusive chat on the Wayne Rooney Show, the chemistry was immediate. These aren't just two footballers reminiscing—they're two lads who've shared the pitch, the pressure, and the passion for club and country. Combined, they've made 550 appearances for Everton and 202 for England.
Rooney, of course, is England's all-time leading scorer and holds the record for most appearances by an outfield player (120). But even he tips his cap to Pickford, who has been rewriting the record books between the sticks. The Everton shot-stopper recently set a new mark for most consecutive clean sheets by a Three Lions goalkeeper, and Rooney believes he's on track to become England's greatest ever in his position.
As the conversation turns to this summer's World Cup, the stakes couldn't be higher. One will be there as England's undisputed number one; the other will watch from the pundit's chair. But both feel the weight of 60 years of hurt.
"We need something as a nation to win," says Pickford, now 32. "No England ex-player would ever be jealous. Everybody needs it—it only pushes the England badge forward. It makes football grow."
His eyes light up when he talks about what a World Cup win would mean. "We'd be legends for life. When you've been so close, it does hurt—but that's what has to drive you. We've taken that leadership and that experience, and now it's about bringing it all together. We know what it takes to get there. The commitment, the dedication. It's about getting over that final hurdle."
Pickford's journey to becoming England's number one started in November 2017, when he made his debut in a 0-0 draw against Germany. But Rooney remembers the first time the then-22-year-old walked into the England squad, 13 months earlier, as a late replacement for a World Cup qualifier in Slovenia.
"The first time I met you was when you were in the England squad," Rooney recalls, smiling. "I always remember sitting there, and you got on the bus for the first time..."
Pickford didn't just sit anywhere. He sat right next to Rooney. That boldness, that belief—it's the same fire that's made him a fan favorite at Goodison Park and a national hero in goal. And with the World Cup on the horizon, that fire is burning brighter than ever.