Why ex-Sunderland keeper Jordan Pickford isn't getting carried away as Everton man reacts to England's win over Germany at Euro 2020

Former Sunderland goalkeeper Jordan Pickford is already looking ahead to Saturday’s meeting with Ukraine at Euro 2020 following England’s historic win over Germany.
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The 27-year-old Everton stopper made a couple of fine saves in the 2-0 win at Wembley, denying Chelsea duo Timo Werner and Kai Havertz either side of half-time.

Second-half goals from Raheem Sterling and Harry Kane sealed the win for The Three Lions to set up a quarter-final clash against Ukraine in Rome on Saturday.

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When asked about his important saves, Pickford replied: “I’ve just got to be in the moment you know. I just help the team as much as I can.

Ex-Sunderland goalkeeper Jordan Pickford playing for England.Ex-Sunderland goalkeeper Jordan Pickford playing for England.
Ex-Sunderland goalkeeper Jordan Pickford playing for England.

“I train all week and then try to do what I do on a match day.

“The crowd thought I did well with the two saves but I also just tried to take the sting out of the game by coming for crosses when 2-0 up.

“We need to keep it going for Saturday now.”

On the team’s performance, the Everton keeper said: "There was resilience, the lads knew it was an opportunity and we took it.

"We worked hard. We kept going."

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Before the match, comparisons had been made to England’s penalty shootout defeat against Germany in 1996, yet Pickford says this group are just focusing on the present.

"Yeah of course. Germany have always been a top side,” Pickford added.

“But we knew how hard it would be.

"We tried to stay in the present - as a nation - and we knew how hard it would be against them now."

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