Thibaut Courtois has clarified his comments on the situation regarding Jordan Pickford following Belgium’s 2-1 win over Brazil in the World Cup quarter-finals.
Following England’s 1-0 loss to Belgium in the final group stage game late last month, the Everton goalkeeper came under fire from a small section of fans for failing to prevent Adnan Januzaj scoring the opener which would turn out to be the game winner.
After the game Courtois seemingly stuck the knife in too, aiming a comment at Pickford’s height and his actions. Courtois was quoted as saying:
The goalkeeper is 10cm smaller than me. I would have caught it.
He was too busy throwing his legs in the air.
While many in the footballing community, particularly former professional goalkeepers, thought that this comment was unfair, Pickford himself hit back, after a historic performance that included a dramatic save in England’s penalty shootout win over Colombia in the Round of 16. Live on ITV, Pickford said:
I have got power and agility. I don’t care if I’m not the biggest keeper because it’s about being there in the moment and making the save, and I was.
Now Courtois has moved to cool the drama and clarify what he meant in his initial comment. Live on BBC One following the game, Courtois said:
This thing about Jordan, I want to say and clarify it because I heard a lot of stuff.
I never mocked his height, I want to make that clear, because I would never mock the height of a goalkeeper.
I think he is a great goalkeeper, he proved that this year.
I only say that because he got a touch maybe I would have saved it because I’m 15cms taller. But I never mocked his height because I know he is a great goalkeeper.
Editors note: Let’s leave this goalkeeping height debate here, shall we? Grand.
