Pickford: We are in control of Euro destiny despite streak slipping away
Betway. Game of the night is in Group B where leaders Ukraine face nearest rivals Portugal.
The Portuguese look a little short at 6-5 with Betway compared to 13-5 for the home side so best bet could be both to score at 21-20 with McBookie.
Cristiano Ronaldo is searching for his 700th career goal and is 23-20 with McBookie to get it.
The top two in Group H also meet with France hosting Turkey and the winners will just about seal their finals place. Turkey won 2-0 in January but the French are 2-5 at Ladbrokes to gain revenge.
Super Single Ronaldo to score (23-20, McBookie)
Top Treble England -1, Ukraine v Portugal
btts, France (4-1, Ladbrokes). JORDAN PICKFORD believes England’s shock Euro 2020 defeat to the Czech Republic could be a “blessing in disguise.”
The Three Lions suffered their first qualifying loss in ten years in Prague on Friday night – a painful reminder that boss Gareth Southgate has a lot of work to do.
The England gaffer has seen his team concede five goals in their last two games, against Kosovo and the Czech Republic, and they now approach tonight’s qualifier against Bulgaria with a real determination to put things right.
Pickford insists they must learn lessons from the 2-1 setback and use it as a wake-up call to get their Group A qualifying campaign back on track.
The Everton keeper said: “This is a whole new experience for a few of the lads. We hadn’t lost a qualifier in a decade, which was unbelievable.
“Hopefully, this is a blessing in disguise and we will now bounce back in Bulgaria.
“First and foremost, it is horrible JOHN CROSS IN SOFIA getting beat. Nobody likes getting beat but unfortunately we did.
“The good thing about football is that you can learn from this kind of defeat. You can mature.
“Sometimes it is not always nice, football. It’s about grinding out results. We knew that if we won we would qualify. But we will learn. We will debrief it and go again in Bulgaria.
“I’d say disappointed was the word after the game. I’ve said it a few times here. We are all just so disappointed.
“We know as a group how much better we can be. You look around and you see the ability in the squad.
“We just didn’t knuckle down and transform what we had been doing in training into the game. We trained well as a group all week.
“It’s disappointing that we didn’t come away with a result – even a draw. I was busy but I was ready for it.
“Unfortunately we have conceded two and we didn’t get the result we wanted. We are disappointed as a group but we will go again on Monday in Bulgaria and we can still qualify for the finals.”
If there was one positive to come out of the defeat in Prague then it was Pickford’s performance.
While the England No.1 has been struggling for Everton, he made a string of brilliant saves on Friday.
But Southgate’s defence did look shaky with stoppers Harry Maguire and Michael Keane both struggling for form at their clubs.
Danny Rose also had an off night and Trent Alexander-Arnold could now come in for Kieran Trippier.
The midfield did not offer much protection and England were also undone at a set-piece, with Pickford insisting that they must tighten up for Bulgaria.
He added: “I hate getting beaten, I hate conceding goals. It was a missed opportunity but we will bounce back and learn from it. Qualification is still there for us.
“First things first, it is about keeping a clean sheet.
“Everyone knows about the