JORDAN PICKFORD is dreaming of being an England World Cup hero — by SCORING a penalty.
The keeper, in Florida preparing for Saturday’s warm-up game against New Zealand, has been practising taking spot-kicks rather than just looking to save them.
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England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford is willing to take a penalty at the World Cup Credit: AP:Associated Press
Pickford will be expected to save penalties but he is also willing to step up for England Credit: Getty Images – Getty
Asked if he wants to be on penalty duty this summer, the England No 1 said: “Yes. I’d back myself 100 per cent. I’ll put the practice in and execute it.
“I want to focus on the saving as well. So there is a balance. If called upon, I play for England, I represent the country, so I’ll step up and take it when needs be.”
Pickford, 32, saved shootout penalties for England at the 2018 World Cup, Euro 2020 and Euro 2024.
The Everton keeper has taken one spot-kick for England, scoring against Switzerland in the 2019 Nations League finals in Portugal.
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After Pickford’s penalty which saw England take third place in the Nations League, then manager Gareth Southgate said: “With the players that were left on the pitch, he was one of the leading penalty takers and he executed it as well as he could.
“We weren’t against Jordan taking a penalty at the World Cup in Russia. A few others had probably shown a better level but he would be among our better penalty takers.
“You feel more nervous putting a goalkeeper on a penalty but he was there on merit.”
Asked about if he has started practising saving penalties ahead of this summer’s finals, Pickford said: “I’m keeping that work close to my chest. We’ll probably start implementing that a little bit, soon.”
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England, who arrived in America on Monday, are training in Florida this week ahead of Saturday’s game in Tampa.
That will be followed by a friendly against Costa Rica in Orlando on Wednesday.
The Three Lions’ first World Cup clash is against Group L opponents Croatia in Dallas on June 17.
And Pickford is confident he will be in New Jersey for the final on July 19.
He said: “I am leaving for seven weeks but it’s going to change our whole lives. It’s going to be the best.”
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