‘Small’ Pickford is standing tall

– Mocked by Belgium’s Thibaut Courtois for being too small for a top-class goalkeeper, Jordan Pickford (above) stood tall when England needed a penalty shootout hero to end years of pain from the spot.

On just his seventh international appearance, Pickford became the first England stopper in 20 years to save a penalty at a major tournament.

With the sides tied at 3-3 in the shootout, the Everton keeper leapt to his right and got a strong left hand to Carlos Bacca’s strike, putting the Three Lions on course to win a knockout game for the first time since 2006.

It was a sweet moment for Pickford, and for his manager Gareth Southgate, whose decision to back the 24-year-old despite his inexperience and leave 75-time capped Joe Hart out of his squad was vindicated.

“I don’t care if I’m not the biggest keeper,” said the 1.85m tall Pickford. “I’ve got that power and agility to get around the goal. I’m very good at it.”

“The goalkeeper is 10 centimetres smaller than me,” Chelsea’s giant goalkeeper Courtois told Belgian website Voetbal24. “I would have caught it. He was too busy throwing his legs in the air.”

Courtois was not alone. Former Manchester United captain Gary Neville, who also formed part of the England coaching team at Euro 2016, described Pickford’s attempt to stop Adnan Januzaj’s strike as “a bit strange”.

“I’ve been criticised for going with my top hand, but as long as you save it, that’s all that counts,” said Pickford after silencing his critics. “I might be young but I’ve got good mental strength and experience and I used that.” – AFP