Hero Jordan: Now let’s win the next two
Ex-Sunderland goalkeeper Jordan Pickford was a happy man after his late penalty save ensured a point for England in their goalless European Under-21 Championship opener against holders Sweden.
Group A also includes hosts Poland and Slovakia and, with only the three pool winners and best runners-up going through, England must improve.
But Pickford, who became Britain’s most expensive keeper on Thursday when he completed his £30million move to Everton from the Black Cats, was content enough with the outcome in Kielce. “The main thing was not to lose the game,” he said. “It would’ve been nice to get the three points.
“Winning the first game’s always nice in tournament football. But we’ve come away with the draw, and it’s down to us to win the next two.”
On his spot-kick heroics from Linus Wahlqvist’s effort 10 minutes from time, he modestly added: “I just waited a bit longer, held my ground, dived to the left and got my top hand to it. It’s what you do.” Meanwhile, the 23-year-old expressed his delight at having got his future sorted.
“It’s good. It’s nice to get it (the move) out of the way, and I can concentrate on the Euros and go as far as I can with England,” the Washington-born keeper said on Sky Sports.
“Like I say, I can relax now, not worrying about anything.
“It’s a great club to go to for myself, to move that next step on my journey. I feel like Everton was the best place for me so it’s a good one for me.”
Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo is “outraged” at what he feels is unfair treatment by Spanish tax authorities and is determined to quit the club and the country.
It is understood that the 32-year-old feels he is being singled out for disproportionate treatment after prosecutors accused him of defrauding the authorities of 14.7million euros (£12.8m).