Everton Goalkeeper Jordan Pickford said he did his research before the penalty shootout that took England to the Quarter-Finals.
England took the lead in the second half thanks to a Harry Kane penalty and were set to win the game in normal time before Columbia’s Yerry Mina scuppered those plans producing a stoppage-time equalizer to take the game to Extra time.
By the time penalties rolled around, England must have been feeling nerves as their World Cup record in penalties is abysmal: 3 Penalty shootouts, 0 wins.
Pickford saved from Carlos Bacca before Eric Dier scored the deciding penalty to win the game.
Pickford who after the game against Belgium, was criticized by Thibaut Courtois as not having the right stature to be truly World class, said that he proved people wrong.
He said: “I have got power and agility. I don’t care if I’m not the biggest keeper because it’s about being there in the moment and making the save, and I was,”
“It is all about the set position and I got a hand to it. I did all my research.
“We knew we had this game, even if it had to go to penalties, we knew we were capable of winning.”
He added: “I was in a massive whirlwind but I saved it with my left hand. I’ve been criticised for going with my top hand, but as long as you save it, that’s all that counts,” he explained.
“I might be young but I’ve got good mental strength and experience and I used that today.
“It’s a great night to win a penalty shootout. Ideally we don’t want to be going to a penalty shootout but we are delighted for the fans and the whole country.
“It gives us belief to go into the Sweden game and we will get straight back to business tomorrow.”
England Play Sweden on Saturday for a chance to get into the World Cup Semi-Finals for the first time since 1990.