Goal.com · Jul 7, 2018
Southgate praises 'prototype' Pickford after quarter-final clean sheet
England manager Gareth Southgate described Jordan Pickford as the prototype of a modern goalkeeper after his saves helped book a place in the World Cup semi-finals .
Pickford made a trio of superb stops as England beat Sweden 2-0 in Samara on Saturday thanks to headers from Harry Maguire and Dele Alli either side of the break.
England will face Croatia in the semi-final in Moscow on Wednesday in what will be their first appearance in the last four of the World Cup since 1990 .
And Southgate said Pickford - along with goalscorer Maguire - was one of the key reasons why the Three Lions extended their stay at Russia 2018, keeping their first clean sheet of the tournament.