Pickford save could be key U21 moment

ENGLAND Under-21 boss Aidy Boothroyd admitted Jordan Pickford’s penalty save is likely to be a defining moment in their Euro 2017 campaign.

The Young Lions drew 0-0 with Sweden in the tournament’s opening game on Friday after Pickford denied Linus Wahlqvist from the spot.

Everton’s £30m goalkeeper made the save with nine minutes left as England held on for a point in Group A. Slovakia’s 2-1 win over Poland in Friday’s late game meant they took control.

England play Slovakia tomorrow and hosts Poland on Thursday, with Boothroyd predicting Pickford’s stop will be crucial.

“We want to qualify for the semi-finals and in order to do that, we have to win games, but it’s also really important we didn’t lose,” he said.

“We’ll look back at it and say it’s a defining moment, I hope.

“It is important when we don’t play well we dig in and make sure we don’t get beaten.

“He has had quite a week. Most people would struggle to deal with what’s happened and have some sort of dip but touch wood, he doesn’t. I thought he was excellent.”

Pickford only completed his big-money move to Everton from Sunderland on Thursday to make him Britain’s most expensive goalkeeper.

“It was disappointing to concede a penalty – I’m not sure it was, but it was given so it was. Of course we have our super goalkeeper that keeps penalties out,” said Boothroyd.

“It was a fair result in the end and we can certainly play better than we did. “Sweden gave us problems which we dealt with. “I was (confident he would save it) but I had our subs ready to come on and chase the game if the penalty had gone in.”