I'm a passionate lad and I love it at Everton - Pickford

The similarities between Wayne Rooney and Jordan Pickford are striking.

The mutual respect - and shared love of club and country - is obvious as the former team-mates sit down for an in-depth chat on the Wayne Rooney Show.

Pickford and Rooney have played a combined 550 times for Everton and 202 times for England.

Rooney is England's all-time leading scorer and holds the record for the most England appearances - 120 - by an outfield player.

Pickford recently broke the record for most consecutive clean sheets by a Three Lions goalkeeper and, Rooney believes, is on his way to becoming the country's best ever in his position.

When they meet, the prospect of ending 60 years of hurt for England's men's team this summer is high on the agenda. One will be at the World Cup as the undisputed number one, the other will be there as a pundit.

"We need something as a nation to win," says Pickford, 32. "Any England ex-player... I don't think they'll ever be jealous. Everybody needs it, it's only going to push the England badge forward. It's football, it's going to make it grow.

"We would be legends for life. When you've been so close it does hurt, but it's got to drive you. We've been so close to winning something for England, so we can take that leadership on and that experience on to bring it all together.

"We know what it takes to get there and the commitment and dedication you need as a group of lads to get there. It's about getting over that final hurdle."

Pickford has played 82 times for England, having made his debut in a 0-0 draw against Germany in November 2017.

He was first called up to the national squad 13 months earlier - as a late replacement for a World Cup qualifier in Slovenia - and, aged 22, made an instant impression on Rooney - by sitting next to him.

"The first time I met you was when you were in the England squad," says Rooney. "I always remember being sat there and you got on the bus for the first time, and you came and sat next to me.

"I remember thinking, 'what's he like?' And I couldn't wait to get on the training pitch and try and dink you or something."

Pickford says: "Every seat was taken because I came late, I got called up late. I was more nervous when you said to me: 'Are you ready for the [induction] song later?'

"I watched you growing up and when I was watching you in the Euros and getting in an England squad, everyone looked up to you. So even then [on the bus] I was texting saying: 'I'm opposite Wazza.' I was shaking.

"I was on the bench and it was a great experience. My dream was to play for England. We know there's only that small percentage of kids growing up get that opportunity.

"When I came to Everton I knew I had to do well and I knew England was there for me because I went from under-16s to 20s all the way through 21s in the pathway.

"I got my opportunity against Germany at Wembley."

Pickford has played in every England match in each of the past four major tournaments - the 2018 World Cup, European Championship in 2021, 2022 World Cup and Euro 2024.

During that time, England have lost in two European finals and reached the semi-finals and quarter-finals of the World Cup.

Pickford, if fit, is guaranteed a starting spot at this summer's tournament in North America but does not take anything for granted.

"I think, 'I've got to keep improving' and that's why I've sustained it for so long," he says.

"I've never just been happy about being number one, it's like 'how can I be number one for that amount of years', then hitting targets... 2026 World Cup is a target.

"I want to keep improving and keep pushing myself... pushing boundaries when I'm out there to improve on the training pitch, to keep going as long as I can."

Pickford and Rooney played for Everton in the 2017-18 season