Southgate Praises Pickford's English Hero After World Cup Penalty Victory | Soccer

Gareth Southgate praised Jordan Pickford after England 's goalie emerged from a tough week to inspire the team' s win against Colombia.

Everton No.1 became England 's first goalkeeper since David Seaman, against Argentina at Saint – Etienne in 1998, to save a shooting shot on the pitch. a major tournament while the national team was making its way to the quarterfinals. Pickford 's clash against Belgium in the last group match had sparked some criticism, while his counterpart, Thibaut Courtois, had hinted that he was too small

Southgate, whose l? Team faces Sweden Saturday in Samara, It's found after 90 minutes at the end of stoppage time as an indication of the qualities of the 24-year-old, before the goalkeeper scores deep into the shootout. "It was a first clbad rescue, and I was surprised that it could reach him given his size," said the manager with a smile. "His athleticism around the goal is excellent and he executed the plan in the penalty shootout."

"We had studied all their takers, and a great merit should come back to the staff community, and to Jordan, for taking this information and getting it right, you do not always get it. that you deserve in life but I think we did against Colombia.

"Even when the penalty [Jordan Henderson’s] was saved, I saw enough shootouts to know that the first miss was not there. is not the key. I thought our goalie would save one, and the technique of our players to take them was superb all along. Again, I have to thank a great support team that has done a lot of work in this area over the last few months.

Pickford, who has only seven senior selections, lost in shootout against Germany's semi-finals of the Under-21 Europe Championship last year, but did fine honorable in Moscow. "We did research on them first, with Marg [the goalkeeping coach, Martyn Margetson] and the badysis staff," he said. "I had a fair feeling." Radamel Falcao was really the only one who did not go "in his" way but it's settled, reacting and coming to power. I'm not the biggest goalkeeper, I've got that power and agility to get around the goal, I've got it very well. "

Southgate had seen his team ship an EQ deep down the time of the game stops, but he remained calm while he was encouraging his players to focus before the extra period. "At 90 minutes, the message was that we were in total control," he explained. "We had a huge setback, but we had to stay calm, they did not create a lot of chances and we had to believe in the way we played."

"At the end of the game, I needed to give them their individual time.But there was no need to scream or make them overheat.We were in control of the process.C & # 39; It was up to us to own.I had confidence in their techniques.Great credit to them that they have executed.I

"I was completely calm and focused until the end of the day. Eric Dier performed [scored the winning penalty]. I did not want to pack. I told Steve Holland: "OK, we're really doing it the hard way" because we even lost the draw, which, according to the statistics, makes the task even more difficult. But we joked about it and relaxed. It was great to be in the arms of your staff at that time. It is a collective effort. Everyone has put so many things to get to this point. "