• Football

  • Internationals

England News

News

  • News
  • Teams
  • Fixtures
  • Results
  • Tables
  • Stats
  • Squad
More from Football
  • Football Home
  • Internationals

Jordan Pickford says England will take upper hand from empty stadium in Croatia

By Danny Gallagher

Last Updated: 11/10/18 11:31am

0:32
Jordan Pickford believes England can take the upper hand with having to play Croatia behind closed doors.
Jordan Pickford believes England can take the upper hand with having to play Croatia behind closed doors.

Jordan Pickford believes England will take the upper hand from having to play their UEFA Nations League fixture with Croatia in an empty stadium.

No fans will be present for the clash in Rijeka on Saturday due to Croatia serving the second part of their two-game punishment imposed by UEFA after a swastika was marked on their pitch before a Euro 2016 Qualifier against Italy.

The away fixture for England will be played behind closed doors, meaning only players and staff from each side will be present.

Pickford, who played in Croatia last season with Everton in the Europa League, admits the situation will be strange but England can benefit.

"We [Everton] played there against Hajduk Split in the Europa League qualifier and [it was] very hostile, the fans were crazy, I thoroughly enjoyed it and it got me up for the game," Pickford told Sky Sports News.

"But now we've got a 'no fans in the stadium' ban; but I think going away from home you're up against hostile crowds so hopefully this can give us the upper hand.

Pickford feels he earned the No 1 shirt for England during the World Cup
Pickford feels he earned the No 1 shirt for England during the World Cup

"I think it will feel a bit different, but it's how you react to it."

Despite enjoying a strong World Cup campaign with England, during which he established himself as Gareth Southgate's first-choice goalkeeper, Pickford insists he is not sitting back and taking his status as a given.

"I never rest and hopefully I'm No 1 and I've got the shirt," he said.

"I felt I had a shot at the World Cup to take the chance and I think I took it. The fans will maybe say I did as well.

"But the competition for the goalkeepers is great and I think when I come away here [with England] all four of us enjoy it and we each want to get better as a group and as individuals."

Pickford is set to start between the sticks against Croatia - the game is live on Sky Sports Football - and he says it is a case of victory first over revenge, despite being eliminated in the World Cup semi-finals by their opponents.

"I think we just want to go over there and show the quality we have got and the improvements hopefully we've been making," said the 24-year-old.

"If you win it is a bit of revenge, but the main aim is to get that win and we want to get the momentum going again."

Play Super 6

Predict 6 correct scores for your chance to win £250K.

Also See:

  • Nations League essential stats
  • Barkley: World Cup omission frustrating
  • Why is England v Croatia behind closed doors?
  • The rise of Luka Modric

Trending

  • 1
    What's happening with Icardi?
  • 2
    'Worst time for Reds to face Man Utd'
  • 3
    Angry AJ may be bad news for Big Baby
  • 4
    'Sarri's Chelsea echoes Napoli start'
  • 5
    Kimi ahead of Vettel at lunch
  • 6
    'Wenger would be great at Chelsea'
  • 7
    Klopp and Kovac's clash explained
  • 8
    Part one of Man City's quadruple?
  • 9
    Zlatan: I proved my haters wrong at Utd
  • 10
    Zidane & Lampard considered by Chelsea
  • Video
  • Latest News
  • Home
  • Sports
    • Football
    • F1
    • Cricket
    • Rugby Union
    • Rugby League
    • Golf
    • Boxing
    • Tennis
    • Cycling
    • Racing
    • Darts
    • NFL
    • NBA
    • Motorsport
    • Netball
    • GAA
    • WWE
    • eSports
    • More Sports
  • Score Centre
  • Video
  • TV
  • Sky Bet
  • Games
  • More
    • Transfer Centre
    • Live on Sky
    • Get Sky Sports
    • TV Shows
    • TV Guide
    • Competitions
    • Sky Go
    • Now TV
    • Pub Finder
    • Sportswomen
    • Sports Scholarships
    • Podcasts
    • Mobile
    • Twitter
    • Facebook
    • Contact Us
    • Terms & Conditions
    • Sky.com
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Google+
  • Sky Sports
    • Get Sky Sports
    • Sky Sports Apps
    • Sportinglife.com
    • TEAMtalk.com
    • Football365.com
    • Team Sky
  • Partners
    • Sky Bet
    • Fantasy Football
    • Super 6
    • Sky Sports Pub Finder
    • Living for Sport
    • Planet Rugby
    • Golf365
    • Planet F1
    • Cricket365
  • Sky Sports Channels
    • Sky Sports Main Event
    • Sky Sports Premier League
    • Sky Sports Football
    • Sky Sports Cricket
    • Sky Sports Golf
    • Sky Sports Racing
    • Sky Sports F1
    • Sky Sports Action
    • Sky Sports Arena
    • Sky Sports News
    • Sky Sports Mix
  • More Sky Sites
    • Sky.com
    • Sky News
    • Sky Corporate
    • Sky For Businesses
    • Now TV
    • Sky Communal TV
    • Sky Academy
    • Bigger Picture
    • Store Locator
    • Work for Sky
    • Advertise With Us
    • Sky TV Accessories
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Privacy & Cookies Notice
  • Accessibility Information
  • Contact Us

©2019 Sky UK