England vs Switzerland result: Jordan Pickford reveals why he took penalty in Nations League shootout
Pickford denied Josip Drmic in sudden death after scoring his own spot-kick as the Three Lions won 6-5 on penalties
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Your support makes all the difference.Jordan Pickford has admitted he was nervous as he stepped up to score a penalty for the first time in a competitive game as England beat Switzerland in a shootout to finish third in the Nations League.
Three days on from losing their semi-final to the Netherlands due to two defensive gifts and a narrow offside call, the Three Lions returned to a far quieter Estadio D Afonso Henriques for Sunday's battle for bronze.
Callum Wilson thought he had grabbed a late winner ruled until the video assistant referee intervened in Guimaraes, where England dominated throughout only for the match to end 0-0 after 120 minutes.
The match went to spot-kicks and Pickford came into his own in the shootout, denying Josip Drmic in sudden death after scoring his own spot-kick as the Three Lions won 6-5 on penalties.
When asked why he took a spot-kick, Pickford said: "We practice them when there's a major competition or the Nations League, we practice them consistently.
"I picked my spot and I always seem to be able to get a goal, but I've never taken one in a real game so I was a bit nervous.
"I think we took (off) Harry Kane and some of the other lads who take penalties so I wasn't sure where I was in the pecking order, but it's what you practice for, you practice all the time to make sure you make it easier on the day."
When asked about his penalty technique, Pickford replied: "It's all about routine I would say, if you watch the top penalty takers. Harry Kane he's got his own routine, so you've got to create your own routine to make sure everything's done to perfection."
The Everton goalkeeper believes the result just days after the disappointment of the semi-final defeat shows the character of this Three Lions squad.
"It was a very tough game and I think our character to get through 120 minutes on Thursday and to have to go through another tough game today, 120 minutes and penalties," he added,
"We showed character and belief again and sometimes it's hard to get up for a game like this but it just shows us where we want to go and how we get better as a team and bounce back.
"We always say 'do what it takes to win a game' and I was a bit nervous taking my pen, but I'm not nervous saving them."
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