Jordan Pickford admits he does not want to have to repeat his World Cup penalty heroics this summer - but says he is even ready to step up and take one should England go to another shootout at Euro 2020.
Pickford became a national hero when his save from Colombia’s Carlos Bacca helped Gareth Southgate’s side end their penalty hoodoo in the last-16 of the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
A year later, the Everton goalkeeper took - and scored - one himself during a shootout victory over Switzerland in the Uefa Nations League finals.
And while the 27-year-old is unlikely to be in Southgate’s top five takers, only weeks ago the world of football witnessed a remarkable Europa League final shootout in which all 22 players were forced to take spot-kicks.
“There is a lot of hard work goes into penalties and the backroom staff do it, too,” Pickford told the Official England Podcast. “Hopefully, we don’t have to go to a shootout in this tournament, but, if we do, we’ll be well prepared.
“I’ll put plenty of practice into taking them as well. You need to be there for the team if called upon. I’ll step up and take one.
“We have plenty of quality finishers in the group, so I might be put down the pecking order!
“But I’ll practice and make sure I nail penalties in training in case I need to take one.”
