Sun | May 10, 2026

Football Fever | Research paid off for England goalie

Published:Tuesday | July 3, 2018 | 12:00 AM
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AP
England's Harry Kane, right, goalkeeper Jordan Pickford, centre, and Kieran Trippier celebrate with teammates at the end of the round of 16 match between Colombia and England at the 2018 soccer World Cup in the Spartak Stadium, in Moscow, Russia yesterday. England won 4-3 after a penalty shoot out.
AP
England fans react to Jordan Henderson having his penalty saved during a penalty shootout before the final outcome as they watch on a big screen the round of 16 match between England and Colombia at the 2018 soccer World Cup in Flat Iron Square, south London yesterday.
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When Carlos Bacca stepped up to take Colombia’s fifth and final penalty, Pickford knew he was likely to shoot to the left.

The 24-year-old goalkeeper, in just his seventh England appearance, trusted his research and leaped. Research wasn’t enough on its own ­ he also needed lightning reaction to stretch his left arm up to paw away Bacca’s high shot.

The save gave England’s Eric Dier a chance to win the shootout, and he converted. England won on 4-3 on penalties after a 1-1 draw.

“I did a whole bunch of research,” Pickford said, his confidence sky-high. “(Radamel) Falcao is the only one who didn’t go his way. I don’t care if I’m not the biggest keeper in the world. I have the power and agility.”

Pickford was just two years old when England last won a penalty shootout, a few days older when the now-England coach Gareth Southgate missed the deciding penalty in a European Championship semi-final loss to Germany. That defeat at home was treated almost as a national trauma, as was the penalty loss to Argentina two years later.

Pickford only emerged as a leading Premier League keeper last year and made his debut for England in November. But he has rapidly become part of Gareth Southgate’s new generation of English talent.

At 6 feet 1 inch (1.85 metres), Pickford is small for a World Cup goalkeeper.

“A top-class save. I’m surprised he could reach it, given his height,” Southgate said of the save from Bacca’s penalty.

“His athleticism around goal is excellent, and again he executed the planning in the penalty shootout. We’d studied all their penalty takers. Great credit to a collective of staff and him for taking on that information and preparing in the right way. You don’t always get what you deserve in life, but I think tonight we did.”