PICKFORD SETTLE AN

REDEMPTION. Retribution. Revenge. Call it what you want but England keeper Jordan Pickford insists any one of the above is very much the name of the game for today’s Euro 2020 opener against Croatia.

It is almost three years since the Croats broke Three Lions’ hearts and dreams with that 2-1World

Cup semi-final defeat of Gareth Southgate’s troops.

And although the two have since met twice in the inaugural 2019 Nations League – England drew in Rijeka and won the return at Wembley – this afternoon’s showdown is far bigger.

Everton ace Pickford confirmed as much when asked whether today’s Group D grudge battle was England’s real opportunity to set the record straight against Luka Modric and Co.

Pickford, with 31 caps, said: “Yes. They’re a top side and they got to the final of theworld Cup – that’s where we wanted to be to win it.

“But you know the quality of the players they have and, for us, it’s about preparing to be the best England we can be on Sunday and to beat Croatia.

“It’s about us performing.”

The good news on that front is that England are in a far better place heading into the European Championships than they were before the lastworld Cup, according to Pickford.

For starters, there is a healthy core left from the squad that over-achieved in Russia.

And, of course, there is also a significant younger crop bursting with potential and which, thanks to the pandemic delaying the Euros, is blossoming at the right time.

Those ingredients explain why Pickford, 27, is convinced Southgate’s class of 2021 is superior to that of 2018.

“Three years ago we were still a little inexperienced,” said the ex-sunderland No.1.

“It was a first major tournament for a lot of us. Now we’ve got tournament experience.

“We wanted to go all the way but you can learn something from every game and we learned a lot through that tournament. It puts us in good stead for this one.”

Last season was not the easiest for Pickford. Some high-profile mistakes even led to him being rested on several occasions by then Everton boss Carloancelotti.yet

England manager Southgate never lost faith and, with the help of a psychologist, the Goodison Park shot-stopper was back to his best by the end of his injury-interrupted campaign.

“You’ve got to invest in your own body to get to those next levels – to be the best Jordan Pickford possible,” he explained.

“It’s definitely helped and put me in a very good place.

“Anything I can do to get better I’ll be doing – if it’s in the gym, if it’s a psychologist, if it’s nutrition.”

While in decent nick between the sticks, Pickford is also useful when it comes to taking a penalty in a shoot-out.

He scored in England’s third-place play-off spot-kick triumph over

Switzerland at the

Nations League finals two years ago.

And he will happily step up again for that duty this summer… should the situation require.

Pickford added: “Yes, if called upon. But hopefully we don’t have to take them further down the line and we can go through without penalties.

“That’s what preparation is for. But, for me, it’s about making sure I’m saving them first!”