Pickford: Research paid off in shootout
GARY NEVILLE described it as an ‘out of body experience’ during a penalty shootout. A new generation of England players will now know what he means.
‘This when you’re on the pitch... so many things go through your mind,’ said Neville. ‘You think, “I want to win, I don’t want to go home”. You always felt as though it was our time and it never was so I just hope it is their time now.’
As Eric Dier’s winning spot-kick rifled past the despairing dive of David Ospina, millions of TV viewers will have felt the same way. Seeing England win one of the nerve-jangling finales for the first time since Euro 96 was indeed an out of body experience.
An ill-tempered game had ended in England’s favour after an immense show of courage.
Manager Gareth Southgate said it was a ‘ special moment’. He
added: ‘Penalties are tough but we talked about it and the players took everything on board. Full credit to them.’
A delighted Dier said: ‘It was a nervous moment. I’ve never been in a situation like this but I felt I had to score after missing that header earlier.
‘To get that knock back and come back was amazing. We were down in extra time after that late goal and it is hard to come back from but we stayed calm and never panicked. If it has to go to pens it goes, we were ready.’
Of heroic Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford, Dier added: ‘ He’s a fantastic keeper, great attitude. He’s been great in training and took it into the match.’
Pickford’s stop from Carlos Bacca was the first penalty shootout save by an England keeper since David Seaman against Argentina at France 98.
‘I did a lot of research with the staff,’ he said. ‘Falcao was the only
one that didn’t go our way. I’m not the biggest but I have the power and agility to make the save.’
England had gone so close to winning it in normal time, Harry Kane’s 57th-minute penalty giving them a lead they looked certain to hold on to only for poor defending from a corner to let in Yerry Mina for an equaliser in stoppage time.
Another former England international, Lee Dixon, slammed the defending on ITV: ‘It was a lack of concentration right at the last minute,’ he said. ‘It goes to a corner and it’s a free header. It’s shocking it really is.
‘Make it something brilliant if you are going to concede a goal, don’t make it your mistake.’
Fellow pundit Ian Wright added: ‘ For them to concede at that point... it’s a test and it’s not that easy to get to the quarter-finals.’
Dixon and Neville believed Wilmar Barrios was lucky not be sent off for appearing to headbutt Jordan Henderson during an increasingly bad-tempered game.
The Colombia midfielder was shown a yellow card by incompetent
American referee Mark Geiger following the flashpoint, much to the annoyance of the England players and bench who believe Barrios should have been shown red. ‘I’ve accused England of being naive before but Henderson’s gone down when maybe he doesn’t have to,’ said Neville. ‘It’s a red card, it’s stonewall.’ Dixon added: ‘It’s a red card. He’s done it blatantly.’
‘This is not a physical thing this is all mental,’ added Neville.
Substitute Jamie Vardy gave England a much-needed outlet up front and when he was found, Colombia’s tiredness began to show too. With 112 minutes gone he helped them gain territory on the left and when Danny Rose latched on to Henderson’s pass he sent a shot across the face of goal.
In the end they did enough in a thrilling shootout. Terry Butcher said on BBC 5 Live: ‘What a feeling. Remember where you were when we actually won a penalty shootout. I was jumping around when Dier scored.’