Pickford: I don't like getting beaten!

Jordan Pickford said research helped him to become England's penalty shootout hero in their 2018 FIFA World Cup last-16 match, but this approach is one that has been drilled into the goalkeeper from early in his career.

The Everton player saved a penalty from Colombia's Carlos Bacca to set up Eric Dier’s decisive spot-kick in Moscow that sealed England's place in the quarter-finals.

He starred again as England beat Sweden 2-0 in the last eight, and will hope to help the Three Lions reach the final for just the second time when they face Croatia on Wednesday. 

Pickford revealed he had analysed Colombia's penalty takers before the match with England goalkeeping coach Martyn Margetson.

This sort of attention to detail has been part of Pickford's attitude to penalties since his time at Sunderland. 

Before his move to Everton last summer the 24-year-old spoke about his approach to spot-kicks and revealed how he and the Sunderland staff researched opponents. But Pickford also included a flexibility to adjust according to the penalty-takers and the situation.

"Sometimes with the pressure of the game they might change their mind, but sometimes with the gaffer we’ll come to a decision where to go on the penalty," he says in the video above.

Asked what is the worst part about being a goalkeeper, Pickford admits it is conceding goals, so much so that he has risked injury in his frustration.

"You hate it, but sometimes you have to accept it, that's the most difficult thing," he says. "I do punch the grass sometimes, which I shouldn't do!

"But I don't like losing. I don't like getting beat."