Gareth Southgate’s England have been practising penalties for NINE MONTHS… and goalkeeper Jordan Pickford is high up on the Three Lions’ spot-kick shortlist
- England are preparing for the Euro 2020 where they could face penalties
- The Three Lions have a good spot-kick record under manager Gareth Southgate
- Southgate has been training his side on penalties for the last nine months
- Harry Kane, Marcus Rashford and Jordan Pickford are among the best takers
England have practised penalties at every training camp since September as Gareth Southgate attempts to ensure they do not suffer further shootout misery.
Southgate and his assistant Steve Holland have been honing players’ spot-kick techniques since international football returned post-lockdown.
Southgate and Holland have compiled a ratings system to help decide who will step up.
Gareth Southgate’s England team have been practicing penalties in training for nine months
Goalkeeper Jordan Pickford is high up on the Three Lions penalty shootout list this summer
Before the 2018 World Cup, England had lost six of their seven shootouts in major tournaments — the triumph over Spain at Euro ’96 being the only win.
Yet England have won their last two shootouts — beating Colombia 4-3 in the last 16 at the 2018 World Cup and defeating Switzerland 6-5 in the UEFA Nations League third-place play-off in 2019.
Harry Kane, Marcus Rashford and Kieran Trippier scored spot-kicks in the victory over Colombia and are expected to be high on the list of takers.
Pickford scored for the Three Lions in the UEFA Nations League third-place play-off in 2019
Goalkeeper Jordan Pickford, who scored one against the Swiss two years ago, is understood to be towards the top of the list.
Pickford famously had help notes written on his water bottle for the shootout against Colombia.
