Butland backs Pickford: England will need him if they go all the way

Deeney, a former Watford striker and current CBS Sports commentator, previously claimed that England couldn't win the FIFA World Cup with Pickford as goalkeeper—a view dismissed by former England goalkeeper Jack Butland.

Deeney had said: "I don't see England winning the FIFA World Cup with Pickford in goal, I really don't. He makes me very nervous; every time he has the ball at his feet, I think: 'Pass it, pass it now.' He doesn't give me the same sense of security as Alisson does when he plays for Brazil."

"Unfortunately, when you look at England's goalkeeping options, Pickford is already our best choice. But looking back at the history of teams that have won the FIFA World Cup, they all had stable and reliable goalkeepers."

In response, Butland said on talkSPORT's FIFA World Cup show: "I like Deeney, but he does talk nonsense sometimes, and in my opinion, this is nonsense. Look at everything Pickford has achieved in an England shirt. I hope we can go all the way, I hope we can do it. If we do, he will certainly be a very important part of it."

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