World Cup 2018: England hero Jordan Pickford insists he is ‘not far away’ from Thibaut Courtois’ level, despite Belgian keeper’s criticism
Everton keeper has been hailed as the outstanding keeper at World Cup despite the Belgian claiming Three Lions No1 would have saved Adan Januzaj goal in group defeat if he was taller
JORDAN PICKFORD reckons Thibaut Courtois is not much better than him after the Belgium keeper appeared to knock the England stopper after defeat to Roberto Martinez’s side.
After the game, Courtois claimed he would have saved Adnan Januzaj’s winner against England in Kaliningrad.
Despite the Chelsea No1 claiming he did not criticise the 24-year-old, the Everton keeper inisists he is not bothered by anything Courtois has to say.
Pickford said: “I would not let that affect me.
"It is just a game of football. I don't let anything like that (criticism) affect me.
“I'm just a normal lad. It's only football.
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"A lot of people think I am only young, but it is my second season in the Premier League, and I do not feel as if I am far away from guys like that (Courtois).
"I got a lot of games under my belt in the lower leagues, and I don't feel the Premier League or this (England) is that much different.
“In some way, non-league and League Two was the hard challenge."
Pickford was again in top form as the Three Lions eased past Sweden to reach their first World Cup semi-final since 1990.
He palmed away Marcus Berg’s powerful back-post header low to his left just after the break.
Ten minutes later, Pickford was at it again with a low save down to his right to stop a powerful drive from Viktor Claesson.
Pickford then came to England's rescue again when he tipped over an effort from Berg on a sweeping counter-attack.
It was Pickford's first clean sheet of the tournament, which will put his name into the record books.
At 24 years and 122 days, he becomes the youngest England goalkeeper ever to keep a clean sheet at a World Cup.