The numbers behind England and Argentina's out-of-form World Cup goalkeepers

[p]Neither country has really hit the heights expected of them so far in terms of performance, but both have had attacking quality to see them through to the final four.[/p][p]One distinct weak point for both [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/england/j9N9ZNFA/"]England[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/argentina/f9OppQjp/"]Argentina[/a] has been the surprising underperformance of their goalkeepers.[/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/pickford-jordan/SKTJdUtH/"]Jordan Pickford[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/martinez-emiliano/88Z5NeIl/"]Emiliano Martinez[/a] have so often been reliable on the international stage, but both have performed below par at the 2026 World Cup - with their form on Wednesday evening potentially crucial for whichever side secures victory.[/p][h2]Pickford needs a boost[/h2][p]Everton shot-stopper Pickford has been one of the Three Lions' best performers at major tournaments for almost a decade, but has struggled in North America and currently has the lowest average rating of anyone with significant minutes in the squad at 6.4.[/p][p]Statistically speaking, his goals prevented stat sits at -2.4, the second lowest of any goalkeeper at the tournament with over 270 minutes, which means in theory that England have nearly 2.5 more goals than they should have based on the shots Pickford has faced.[/p][p]While not always making glaring errors, he has conceded goals he would usually be expected to save - such as [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/croatia/K8aznggo/"]Croatia[/a]'s first, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/d-r-congo/phn9mm8H/"]DR Congo[/a]'s shock goal, or [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/norway/8rP6JO0H/"]Norway[/a]'s fortunate strike.[/p][p]Of 18 shots faced, Pickford has conceded six and saved 12, while making one error leading to a shot (v Norway) and one leading to a goal (against DR Congo).[/p][h2]Read more: [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/news/exclusive-chris-kirkland-expects-cagey-affair-between-england-and-argentina/8WURFhPh/"]Chris Kirkland expects 'cagey' affair between England and Argentina[/a][/h2][image alt="Pickford's World Cup player ratings" id="878bd4fd-ad45-4a98-9a85-065324b52761" credit-line="Flashscore" guid="bd2c3ff0-59cc-4b58-83f6-9c704e37c6ae" original-width="2160" original-height="2700" /][p]His two clean sheets have also been secured without much action needed, making just two saves against [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/panama/OWKqbCfi/"]Panama[/a] and not facing a shot against [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/ghana/nNBjHale/"]Ghana[/a].[/p][p]The famous win over [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/mexico/O6iHcNkd/"]Mexico[/a] saw Pickford back to his best with two exceptional stops from [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/jimenez-raul/ENwqg0Pd/"]Raul Jimenez[/a], as well as some heroic sweeping late in the game to keep control of his penalty area - which has perhaps skewed his numbers in that area.[/p][p]The 32-year-old has made 10 punches throughout the tournament, which is more than any other goalkeeper bar one, and far higher than the competition average of 2.6.[/p][p]That would suggest a more proactive approach to guarding his box - as would seven sweeps and three high claims - but it can often be erratic, as seen against Norway, when some weak punches went unpunished.[/p][p]Pickford's distribution has tended to trend to longer passes into England's danger men, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/kane-harry/v5HSlEAa/"]Harry Kane[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/bellingham-jude/QNvlPm7s/"]Jude Bellingham[/a], to varying success, which is natural with longer balls.[/p][p]The Three Lions' number one has shown some worrying signs this summer, and will need to be back to his best against Argentina.[/p][image alt="Pickford's World Cup pass map" id="b515fad5-e7cf-4949-8d8a-d81761853932" credit-line="Opta by StatsPerform" guid="973fda7a-3c52-4ecd-8543-cdeb2cbc53ae" original-width="768" original-height="576" /][h2]Martinez struggling[/h2][p]Argentina goalkeeper Martinez has also been one of their most reliable figures in recent years and played a starring role in the 2022 World Cup final - including a memorable late save to ensure the match went to penalties, and one stop during the shootout as his side lifted the trophy.[/p][p]It's therefore equally surprising that he has failed to impose himself in the current tournament, averaging just a 6.6 Flashscore rating - the second-lowest in the Argentine squad.[/p][image alt="Martinez World Cup player ratings" id="898c3d79-18da-492a-aa77-6d100f9440f8" credit-line="Flashscore" guid="ac536c5c-6e3b-4240-bcde-31a33ff15f71" original-width="2160" original-height="2700" /][p]Much like Pickford, he also has a disappointing goals prevented statistic of -1.52, meaning at least one goal against Argentina should have been stopped by Martinez.[/p][p]He has also conceded six goals, although that is from just 14 shots faced, meaning teams are scoring against Martinez at a rate of almost once for every two shots they have.[/p][p]Again, his two clean sheets were little of his own doing, facing no shots against [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/algeria/nc87N1BR/"]Algeria[/a] and just one against [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/austria/naHiWdnt/"]Austria[/a].[/p][p]Martinez possesses some slightly more reliable statistics when it comes to his sweeping actions and guarding his own box.[/p][p]The goalkeeper is yet to fail when it comes to any of those metrics, making four out of four claims, two out of two sweeps and one punch - although the events clearly occur less frequently, suggesting he is more than capable of it when he needs to, but is less inclined to produce such actions as Pickford might be.[/p][p]In terms of distribution, Martinez sends more passes out to the left to make space on the opposite side of the pitch for [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/messi-lionel/vgOOdZbd/"]Lionel Messi[/a].[/p][image alt="Martinez World Cup pass map" id="471a40a8-f893-4698-887a-07bb121e01b3" credit-line="Opta by StatsPerform" guid="a3eeca1b-5217-49a7-b811-9d08642a0766" original-width="768" original-height="576" /][h2]Improvement needed for the final[/h2][p]One thing is clear heading into Wednesday's clash: both goalkeepers must improve if they want to reach the final, and succeed once they get there.[/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/spain/bLyo6mco/"]Spain[/a] booked their spot in the showpiece event after defeating [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/france/QkGeVG1n/"]France[/a] and have conceded just one goal throughout the entire World Cup.[/p][p]It should come as no surprise, therefore, that 29-year-old [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/simon-unai/Ao9Vw3hi/"]Unai Simon[/a] dominates the goalkeeping statistics.[/p][p]The Spaniard has saved 11 of the 12 shots he has faced and averaged a 7.0 Flashscore rating for his performances in North America.[/p][p]A reliable goalkeeper is a crucial component of any successful international side - and both Pickford and Martinez need to step up in the remaining games at the 2026 World Cup.[/p][image alt="Pickford/Martinez/Simon comparison" id="f32680e9-08dc-46fd-86b5-c88034599815" credit-line="BeSoccer" guid="59345ecf-ebe8-41d4-b202-4ea831fdc872" original-width="933" original-height="932" /][p][b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/argentina-f9OppQjp/england-j9N9ZNFA/?mid=pKVyGJbD"]Follow England v Argentina here with Flashscore.[/a][/b][/p][infobox id="4ccc1b10-d68f-4c97-bcf4-5e613c17c2e3" /]