The Everton goalkeeper has been the subject of some peculiar criticism after England’s win over Slovakia

So it’s not just the national media in England – and the Newcastle United faithful, of course – who have a strange obsession with Jordan Pickford.

As the Three Lions bundled their way into the quarter-finals of the European Championship with a dramatic and chaotic 2-1 win over Slovakia after extra time on Saturday, the Everton goalkeeper actually had quite a low-key afternoon.

Pickord could do little about Slovakia’s opening goal, but was authoritative when claiming crosses and only really let his emotions out late on when he caught the ball in stoppage time to effectively seal the win. He roared and bellowed and bobbed his head up and down.

His passionate reactions are not for everyone, although in the Netherlands they have caused a particular stir it would appear.

As relayed by Sport Witness, one pundit was not impressed with the antics of the Everton man. “What really bothers me about that team is that terrible Everton goalkeeper,” he said, per FCUpdate. “A goalkeeper with sagging socks, who looks like a goalkeeper from the sixth team of an amateur club.”

Another added: “Did you see how happy he was at the end, when he had that ball? It wasn’t good!”

The exchange continued: “He has been behaving like this all year at Everton.”

Pickford is prone to letting his emotions out in big moments. Beating Newcastle last season – the big rivals of his boyhood club Sunderland – sparked a strong reaction, as did the win over Liverpool in the Merseyside derby. Both sets of supporters, be it through hilarious inflatable dinosaurs or songs about arms, were primed for some flak back in fairness.

Pickford is clearly passionate about his country too. So for England to crawl into the quarter-finals after an abject performance was another big moment. If he let his emotion out in the final throes of the match in his own individual way, so what?

These high-profile moments are naturally amplified, although they don’t tell the full story about the Everton goalkeeper. Those who watch him frequently for the Blues will have noticed an enhanced maturity in recent years, with lapses in concentration and erratic decisions significantly diminished.

Still, the jibes come. Remarkably, there was some criticism of Pickford for not saving Denmark’s goal against the Three Lions in the group stages, a 30-yard piledriver from Morten Hjulmand that will surely be in contention for Goal of the Tournament. Even during the ITV broadcast on Saturday, Lee Dixon made reference to Pickford’s vocal presence at the base of the team and how he preferred a quiet goalkeeper like David Seaman.

Who wants decisive communication and clarity from their goalkeeper anyway? Well, Pickford’s England team-mates apparently.

“I would say I am not particularly used to Jordan (Pickford) – it is a bit of a shock at first,” said Marc Guehi ahead of the Slovakia game. “Just the amount of talking. But, actually, when you look back on it, he is fantastic. It’s constant communication, making sure you are staying alert and awake in a game.”

While he’s established himself as a modern-day Everton hero, Pickford has accomplished as much with England. He’s been a model of consistency and produced some remarkable performances in the team’s most successful run since winning the World Cup in 1966. Along with Harry Kane, he’s arguably been the Three Lions’ standout player under Gareth Southgate.