Roy Keane rips into Everton’s star after Greece’s loss: ‘He’s not going to change.’

Manchester United legend Roy Keane has once again ripped into an England star, this time during the Three Lions’ dismal 2-1 defeat to Greece at Wembley Stadium.

Roy Keane didn’t hold back in his latest dig at England’s No. 1 Jordan Pickford during their humiliating 2-1 loss to Greece at Wembley.

The Three Lions were left red-faced after a late Jude Bellingham goal appeared to spare them from humiliation against their Nations League Group F opponents on Thursday night, only for Vangelis Pavlidis to score a famous winner for his country shortly after.

Despite a first half full of near calls for England, including two disallowed goals, Pavlidis broke the deadlock in the 49th minute, sliding past Pickford with some slick footwork.

Earlier, Levi Colwill had to perform a remarkable goalline clearance after Everton’s custodian was dispossessed while dallying on the ball outside of his box and making a terrible pass. Pickford breathed a sigh of relief again as Konstantinos Mavropanos’ offside call cancelled out his misjudged punch, which almost allowed the West Ham defender to score.

During the ITV half-time analysis, Manchester United legend Keane, who has never shied away from attacking Pickford, seized the opportunity to lambaste the 30-year-old custodian, according to the Express.

Commenting on the play leading to Colwill’s heroic clearance, where Pickford lost the ball way out from his line, Keane remarked: “It sends a message about concentration levels, and that spreads throughout the team. Again there’s a lack of urgency.”

“What’s he [Pickford] doing? ! Do it quickly. Brilliant defending, very unlucky by Greece but a lovely message for defenders – never give it up. He [Colwill] chased it and did brilliant. But not a good message from Pickford to send.”

Fellow ITV pundit Ian Wright weighed in on the discussion, saying: “Here again, he looks all over the place. He gets caught in no man’s land. It’s very jittery, Pickford.”

Keane added: “That will always be there with Pickford. He’s not going to change now.”

The Irishman has a history of being critical of Pickford. Last May, after Everton’s 3-0 defeat to Manchester City, Keane lambasted the keeper on Sky Sports: “Pickford for the goal… my goodness. He looks so small in there. There is no spring, he’s not anticipating. Micah (Richards) said before the game he’s a top keeper. He’s not.”

And it wasn’t just this instance; back in March 2020, following a 1-1 draw between Manchester United and Everton at Goodison Park, Keane was equally harsh regarding a Bruno Fernandes shot that Pickford failed to save.

Keane expressed his frustration, stating: “When I hear that, when people say the ball is moving, of course the ball is going to move when someone kicks it.”

He continued with a blunt assessment of Pickford’s abilities: “The bottom line with Pickford, I’m not joking. I don’t need to see your stats, I know he’s [Pickford] not a good goalkeeper. We said it before the game, he is not up to it.”

Keane concluded with a stark opinion on Everton’s progress and Pickford’s role in it: “We spoke before the game about Everton making progress as a football club, I don’t care, he is not a good goalkeeper.”

Greece put on a fantastic effort at Wembley Stadium against Lee Carsley’s squad, winning for the first time over England thanks to Pavlidis’ goal in the 94th minute.

Bellingham scored an equaliser in the 87th minute, giving the hosts hope for a draw. Three goals were disallowed for offside during the Greeks’ excellent performance in London.