Pickford: We want to win the World Cup; the team has come very close to success before

In an interview with Everton's official publication, Pickford discussed his expectations for the FIFA World Cup and his role in the England squad.

Pickford said: "You have to enjoy it all – enjoy the journey and everything you experience in these games. You have to enjoy every day, wake up with a smile on your face, and immerse yourself in the experience of being with the team and in the atmosphere of the world stage."

"When it comes to the games, it feels great. We know there will be a lot of attention, as usual, and we want to go all the way and ultimately win the championship. That's our goal. We've come very close to success and experienced a lot of disappointment."

"But we're talking about the journey, and we hope this is our moment. You see, things are never smooth sailing; these games are like a roller coaster, with ups and downs, but you have to go through them and keep moving forward."

"Now we have a new coach, Tuchel, and this is the first major tournament we're playing under him, so he's definitely going to leave his mark. I know we'll give our all, and we all know what our goal is."

"I'm still young. I recently saw the news that Mexico's Ochoa might be participating in his sixth FIFA World Cup! That's incredible! But yes, I feel like I'm constantly improving; with every game and every training session, I'm getting better."

"This is exactly what I have always strived for. I always ask myself, 'How can I improve?' and demand more of myself. I think it is this mindset that has brought me to where I am today and allowed me to play so many games for Everton and England."

"I want to contribute as much as I can and strive to be a leader for the team. Although one player has to wear the captain's armband, achieving success requires far more than just one leader. I want to contribute to the team's progress – for Everton and for England."