Jack Butland has welcomed the competition for places for the England goalkeeper’s jersey, with only three games to play before the World Cup finals, as he prepares to stake his claim to be first choice in the friendly against Italy on Tuesday.
The Stoke City goalkeeper is expected to earn his seventh cap at Wembley, almost six years after his debut against the same opponents, after watching Jordan Pickford excel in the friendly victory in the Netherlands last Friday.
Joe Hart, the most experienced member of Gareth Southgate’s squad, and the uncapped Nick Pope, are also in the party and while the manager has suggested Pickford’s distribution could be decisive, Butland will go into the game against the Azzurri convinced he can showcase his credentials.
The scenario has drawn comparisons with England’s preparations for the 2010 World Cup, when Robert Green started the tournament before being replaced by David James while Hart was Fabio Capello’s third choice. “It’s a good thing isn’t it, having competition? I enjoy it,” Butland said. “You see the way we’re all competing against each other – I thought Jordan played really well last Friday – and it’s motivation for us all. It’s a good environment to work and train in, and we’re all pushing each other.
“It’s a great way to go into a World Cup. Whoever is selected will be coming in off a battle, which is what you want. It’s a positive situation to be in. We back each other – whoever it’s been in the team, everyone has always supported him. Ultimately that’s how you become a winning team and successful. It’s not by turning your head or being a bad egg, that doesn’t work for anyone. We push each other and you get performances and improvement from that.”
Southgate is expected to make significant changes to his lineup against Italy as he continues to explore his options with 270 minutes of football to play before England’s opening group game at the World Cup, against Tunisia in Volgograd on 18 June. Dele Alli, Eric Dier and Jamie Vardy should start on Tuesday, while there is scope for players such as Lewis Cook, Alfie Mawson or James Tarkowski to gain their first experience at this level.
Regardless of personnel, the team’s possession-based style of football will be maintained, with Southgate convinced those players at his disposal are all comfortable on the ball and at building the play from the back. “It’s the right way,” said John Stones, who may be retained at the heart of the defence as he seeks more game time. “Everyone’s on board with it. If the odd mistake is made, you’ve got to stay mentally strong and not shy away from it.
“We created a lot of chances from playing out [from the back] against the Dutch and that’s a massive thing. If we’ve got that quality that all the big teams have, then we have to stay mentally strong, keep the fans behind us and stay in that positive mind frame.”
