Trusty Pickford saves the best for last again

HIS PENALTY SHOOT-OUT STOP WAS NOTHING NEW

- Andy Dunn

WHEN Jordan Pickford had almost been humiliated by an audacious corner kick from Xherdan Shaqiri, he looked over at the former Stoke City man and grinned.

After Pickford saved Manuel Akanji's penalty in shoot-out, he exchanged fist pumps with the thousands of England fans behind his goal.

When Marc Guehi first played in front of him, he was "shocked" by his team-mate's verbals.

In the unlikely event you need evidence that most goalkeepers are a little bit mad, then Pickford is Exhibit A.

But, game by game, the argument that he is the most important player in Gareth Southgate's Three Lions squad grows.