Jordan Pickford reveals penalty secret as he is set for World Cup clash between England and France to go the distance

JORDAN PICKFORD is ready to enter the minds of France’s penalty takers if the quarter-final ends in a penalty shootout.

The England keeper has a fine record in important shots, having saved one in the 2018 World Cup against Colombia and two in the Euro 2020 final against Italy.

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Pickford always watches the penalty takers before every kick and he will do the same.

He said: “It’s all part of my process and what I do. I just watch them and see how they feel.

“But they have their process as a penalty taker and as a goalkeeper and that’s who wins on that individual penalty.

“You can research, but it’s about running your process, your night dive.

“Let’s hope we don’t get penalties. Let’s hope we get the win in 90 minutes.”

Pickford is also ready to take a penalty, having scored in the Nations League third-place qualifier against Switzerland in 2019.

He said: “I also practiced taking a few. You have to be ready for anything.

“You can’t not practice them, just walk in and think it will be fine. I have to be ready to take one and I have to be ready to save one.”

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Pickford captain Harry Kane says England are full of conviction – as the nation hopes they can beat France in tonight’s quarter-final.

Captain Harry told fans that fan confidence was growing that the Three Lions could go all the way to glory.

More than 20 million people will watch tonight’s showdown with the defending champions – England aiming to erase 56 years of injury, including semi-final disappointment in 2018 and penalty agony at Euro 2020 .

Spurs ace Harry used the word ‘believe’ several times in his rallying cry, saying: ‘We are not here just to reach a quarter-final.

“Looking back to 2018, we didn’t really know what to expect – if we had full belief in winning the tournament, I’m not quite sure.

“We backed that up in the Euros by getting to another final and losing by a few kicks and I think the belief has grown over the last four or five years.

“We came into this tournament hoping and believing we can win it and we got to where we expected to be – but now it’s time to move on.

“We are facing a very difficult game and I know everyone is ready. We are prepared and we approach this match with more conviction than in 2018.”