Jordan-Pickford-Player

SAINTS star Theo Walcott heaped praise on England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford with the Three Lions yet to concede a goal at Euro 2020. Pickford again pulled off some remarkable saves during his side’s 2-0 Euro 2020 last 16 victory over Germany. And Walcott, who played 47 times for England at senior level, was full of praise for the Everton stopper. He told talkSPORT: “It’s all about clean sheets in tournament football. “I’ve been really pleased with Jordan and he had a lot of people on his back about being too involved in the game. “I think he’s taken a step back and started to handle the defence and not play the occasion. He’s leading on the field. “When you’ve got a goalkeeper behind you like that, it helps. We are very difficult to break down. “Jordan has always been a resilient young man and dealt with pressures and I’m sure now he’s grown his hair a little bit more he’s probably not hearing as much. “He’s brilliant. Always done very well for England and Everton. Having (Robin) Olsen, he’s a very experienced goalkeeper, it has probably done him some good.” While the win over Germany will live long in the memory, Pickford himself knows it must be put to the back of the minds of the players as they prepare to take on Ukraine in Rome for a place in the semi-finals. “We’ve got to enjoy the moment,” he said post-match. “But we’ve got to get prepared right, recover well and train well. Every team in this competition is a good side, so we’ve got to be on our A game and prepare well for Saturday. “We’ve had the opportunity to play four games at Wembley and the atmosphere of 45,000 fans today was amazing. “I think that just gives us the desire on Saturday, it is another opportunity to come back to Wembley. Come Saturday we will be prepared for what they put up against us.”