World Cup 2018: Thibaut Courtois mocks Jordan Pickford for being too short to be a goalkeeper after Adnan Januzaj strike
Chelsea's Belgian stopper claims he would have easily stopped goal against England which saw Pickford criticised
THIBAUT COURTOIS has mocked England keeper Jordan Pickford — for being too SHORT to stop Adnan Januzaj’s Belgium winner.
Three Lions keeper Pickford was criticised for his attempt to save Januzaj’s curling strike in Thursday’s 1-0 defeat.
The Everton star launched himself off the ground in a desperate attempt to reach the ball, but his 6ft 1in frame failed to get close to keeping it out of the net.
Pickford’s theatrical dive, which at one point saw his legs up higher than his dead, caught the eye of Belgium stopper Courtois.
And the Chelsea star, who at 6ft 4in towers over his opposite number, was happy to weigh in on his opposite number’s lack of height.
Courtois said: “The goalkeeper is 10cm smaller than me.
“I would have caught it. He was too busy throwing his legs in the air.”
Former England star Gary Neville was among the pundits to question Pickford’s technique on the goal.
He said: “His feet are off the ground when he’s jumping. He goes with his wrong hand. It’s just a bit weird.”
But the legendary Everton No 1 Neville Southall leapt to the defence of Toffees’ star Pickford.
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He tweeted: “Wish people would stop going on about how tall a keeper is.
“It’s how f****** good he is only that counts.”
Pickford’s place as first choice in Gareth Southgate’s side is not under threat as he prepares England for their last 16 match against Colombia.
But Courtois’ comments are sure to catch the eye of the South Americans, who will know his diminutive size for a top-class keeper could be an area of weakness to exploit.