Pickford's heroics earn England 3rd Place

Sunday, 9 , 2019 18comments | Jump to most recent

Jordan Pickford played a decisive role in England's win over Switzerland on penalties that meant they finished third in the inaugural Uefa Nations League.

The Blues' goalkeeper saved Josip Drmic's spot-kick once the shootout had gone to sudden death having scored his own penalty moments earlier.

The match itself had finished goalless after 90 minutes and the two teams couldn't be separated after extra time either.

The victory for Gareth Southgate's men provided some consolation for their error-strewn defeat to the Netherlands in the semi-finals a few days ago. Portugal became the first Nations League Champions after defeating Holland 1-0 in the final.

Meanwhile, Richarlison scored his fifth international goal in 10 appearances and added another assist as Brazil beat Honduras 7-0 in a pre-Copa America warm-up match.

Reader Comments (18)

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Barry Connor
1 Posted 09/06/2019 at 20:34:45

Jordan Pickford scored a penalty for England and saved a penalty in the same game to enable the national team to secure 3rd place in the Nations League. Was this history in the making?

How many England goalkeepers have ever scored for the national side, let alone in competition and how many have both scored and saved penalties in the same match?

Could be that Jordan has just put his name in the record books in a big way!

Gordon White
2 Posted 09/06/2019 at 20:57:52

Everton have had some good keepers, haven't we?

It's just a shame we didn't reach the final. Stones still has a lot to learn.

Mike Connolly
3 Posted 09/06/2019 at 21:01:43

I'd like to see Jordan take our penalties next season, far better than Sigurdsson's penalties.

Kase Chow
4 Posted 09/06/2019 at 21:08:58

Mike #3,

And what if he misses? And the opposition take it up the other end only to be faced by an open goal?

I hate this Championship Soccer mentality. I know, why don't we sign Messi while we're at it? We could bring big Dunc out of retirement. What else?

Andrew Ellams
5 Posted 09/06/2019 at 21:14:05

Kase, he wouldn't be the first penalty taking keeper.

Brian Williams
6 Posted 09/06/2019 at 21:18:27

Kase #4.

That can't happen next season.

Mike Connolly
7 Posted 09/06/2019 at 22:04:54

Kase,

Let's be positive. He won't miss. Let's all be positive next season, I know I will until we fuck up. Seems to work for them across the park...

Brian Williams
8 Posted 09/06/2019 at 22:21:11

I just meant it couldn't happen due to the rule changes. ðŸ˜‰

Kase Chow
9 Posted 09/06/2019 at 22:39:38

Happy to be positive

Can if you imagine if we beat them lot next season? I mean just imagine? Feels like so long now

Can you remember how good it was when we thwarted them 3-0 when AJ got 2

Delirium man!!!!

Mike Connolly
10 Posted 09/06/2019 at 22:40:29

See what you mean about the rule changes, Brian. Goalkeepers have to stay on their line on a peno. It would be impossible for Pickford to score from his goal line. Just like you said, it couldn't happen. ðŸ˜‰ ðŸ˜‰

Brian Williams
11 Posted 09/06/2019 at 22:43:46

Haha Mike. I think you know that's not what I meant. ðŸ¤£

Tom Bowers
12 Posted 09/06/2019 at 22:57:56

Kudos to Pickford but why can't England score except a penalty? It appears that the Kane injury which has given him a lack of match practice really affected England.

Why did Southgate omit Vardy? â€“ one may ask but quite honestly I don't think Southgate really knows what he is doing. He got lucky in the World Cup and some started thinking he was the new England Messiah but he isn't as these two games proved.

They should have taken care of a weak nation like the Swiss.

I was surprised Rashford got the nod in the first game given his form with Man Utd this year and Vardy was much more of a striker in form.

I think England will be looking for a new gaffer by this time next year.

Chris Hockenhull
13 Posted 09/06/2019 at 23:14:37

Remember Big Nev's "Cup Tis" penalty..???

Ernie Baywood
14 Posted 10/06/2019 at 00:13:17

Brian, I'm pretty sure that rule change didn't get passed.

Bobby Mallon
15 Posted 10/06/2019 at 05:28:06

Tom @12,

Vardy retired from international football.

Derek Knox
16 Posted 10/06/2019 at 11:06:25

I see Pickford was the only England player to be picked in the EUFA Nations League Team of the Tournament.

Simon Smith
17 Posted 10/06/2019 at 11:09:36

Tom,

One defeat in extra time to a team that beat Germany and France in their league? Yep let's sack the manager.

The Swiss aren't a poor footballing nation. England were by far the better team yesterday. We'd go through 4 managers a year with your philosophy.

Kieran Kinsella
18 Posted 10/06/2019 at 15:41:54

Tom 12

What a ridiculous post. Southgate "got lucky" to reach the semi final? As opposed to Bobby Robson who needed a late solitary goal to beat Egypt, in the only group game they won, before needing a last second of ET winner to beat a mediocre Belgian team, before needing two dubious penalties to beat Cameroon? Or Alf Ramsey who had the benefit of playing every game at Wembley, and squeaked by a terrible Argentina team that were down to 10 men, then had the Russian linesman's help in the final. Or Terry Venables who progressed from the group after a 4-1 win over which which various of his players have claimed they defied his defensive tactics in, followed by a dire 0-0 with Spain before losing to one of the worst German teams in recent history.

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