Pickford purges penalty curse
MOSCOW — The research paid off for Jordan Pickford.
When Carlos Bacca stepped up to take Colombia’s fifth and final penalty on Tuesday, Pickford knew he was likely to shoot to the left.
The 24-year-old England goalkeeper, in just his seventh international appearance, trusted his research and leaped, shooting out his left arm to paw away Bacca’s high shot.
The save gave England’s Eric Dier a chance to win the shootout, and he converted. England moved on 4-3 on penalties after a 1-1 draw.
“I did a whole bunch of research,” Pickford said afterward. “(Radamel) Falcao is the only one who didn’t go his way. I don’t care if I’m not the biggest keeper in the world. I have the power and agility.”
Pickford was just two years old when England last won a penalty shootout, a few days after Gareth Southgate, now England’s coach, missed the deciding penalty in a European Championship semifinal loss to Germany. That was treated almost as a national trauma, as was the penalty loss to Argentina two years later.
Pickford only emerged as a leading Premier League keeper last year and made his debut for England in November. But the Everton stopper has rapidly become part of Southgate’s new generation of homegrown talent.
“It was a top-class save. I’m surprised he could reach it, given his (6-foot-1) height,” Southgate said.
“His athleticism around goal is excellent and again he executed the planning in the shootout. We’d studied all their penalty-takers. Great credit to a collective of staff and him for taking on that information and preparing in the right way. You don’t always get what you deserve in life, but I think tonight we did.”
On an evening that ended with such frenetic energy, Pickford had little to do in the preceding 120 minutes.
Colombia was on the defensive for most of the first half and lacked bite up front.
England took the lead on a Harry Kane penalty in the 57th minute and Colombia came charging back. In stoppage time, Mateus Uribe fired a stinging long-range shot and Pickford leaped to keep it out with one outstretched hand, sending it wide of the goal.
Pickford could do nothing about the subsequent corner, which saw Colombia defender Yerry Mina rise above Harry Maguire and head in off the turf.
Extra time and penalties loomed, and England fans felt the weight of those 22 years without a shootout win.
It wasn’t just England’s miserable record that seemed to stack the odds against the Three Lions. Its penalty-takers lacked experience at major tournaments — none of them had been involved in any of those previous shootout losses and had to stare down a stand packed with raucous Colombian fans.
While Colombia’s David Ospina stood taciturn, Pickford jumped and jiggled on the line.
Falcao sent Pickford diving headlong before placing the ball through the unguarded center. Juan Cuadrado put the ball high and left, far beyond Pickford’s reach. Luis Muriel sent him diving the wrong way.
With England down 3-2 and facing elimination, Pickford leaped to touch the crossbar as Uribe stepped up, and the Colombian blasted against the bar.
Trippier made it 3-3, and Pickford was up again to face Bacca. After saving against the AC Milan forward, he squatted to the side of the penalty area. Tottenham midfielder Dier hit the winner low and left before his teammates charged toward him to celebrate in a group hug.