Jordan Pickford's mistake gives Belgium the opening goal against England.

 

Jordan Pickford handed Belgium the opening goal in Tuesday's friendly at Wembley Stadium after making an uncharacteristic error while attempting to play out from the back.

The Everton shot-stopper is expected to be England's first-choice custodian at the forthcoming European Championship in Germany, but he was not rewarded as Youri Tielemans scored the opening goal.

England went into the game hoping to avoid a second consecutive Wembley defeat, but Pickford capped a ludicrous string of blunders that led to Belgium's opening goal.
A series of poor defensive clearances and sloppy tackles on the edge of England's box forced him to make a terrible pass into midfield, which was intercepted by his Toffees teammate Amadou Onana.

Pickford had adopted a position beyond his area, giving Onana plenty of time to find Tielemans, who scored with an easy shot into the bottom corner.

The Three Lions star attempted to make it back across his goal as England's defenders fought to recover from the gaffe.

The Belgian star celebrated forcefully as Pickford was left red-faced by his error, which left England chasing the game.
Former England custodian Robert Green called Pickford's attempted pass a 'terrible strike' and applauded Tielemans' excellent finish back across goal.

'He extends his hand in acknowledgement, and it is a gift. Pickford demonstrated himself, attempted an elaborate pass, and there is nothing on.

'It's just a lousy strike, nothing more. It's a brilliant finish, and he knows Pickford will be anxious to get back across his goal,' he explained.

Former England and Chelsea player Joe Cole also applauded Tielemans' finish and lambasted the hosts' start, saying: 'Lovely touch from Onana, very brilliant from Tielemans, he knows Pickford is desperately going to his far post and he pulls it with his left foot into the bottom corner'.

'In the first ten minutes, England dominated the game. "England has had a very poor start," he stated.

England eventually drew 2-2, with Jude Bellingham scoring with the game's final kick to keep Southgate's team from losing consecutive Wembley matches.