Euro 2024: 'Narrative will change when we start peaking,' says Jordan Pickford on England's mixed form
/dnl.eurosport.com/sd/img/placeholder/eurosport_logo_1x1.png){kind=logo}
Published 23/06/2024 at 12:44 GMT
The next instalment of England's Euro 2024 campaign sees them face Slovenia in their final group game in Cologne on Tuesday. Ahead of that encounter, Jordan Pickford threw his backing behind manager Gareth Southgate after England's spluttering displays so far, and said "there is no need to panic" with The Three Lions closing on the knockouts in Germany.
‘We try not to get involved in the outside world’ - Bowen brushes off criticism of England
Jordan Pickford believes the narrative around England following their difficult Euro 2024 draw with Denmark "will change when we start peaking," as the goalkeeper gave his firm backing to boss Gareth Southgate.
England's display in Frankfurt was met with criticism in some quarters, with the team's balance and personnel within it called into question.
However, The Three Lions are in control of their Group C destiny, sitting top on four points after two rounds ahead of their final group game against Slovenia on Tuesday.
“Everyone is behind the manager,” Pickford told the press prior to that encounter in Cologne.
“Everything we do in training and the meetings we have, he delivers them brilliantly for us and gets us the right gameplan.
"We weren’t perfect against Denmark, but that is a good feeling because we know we can improve.
"We know we have more to give in each game so to be on four points with a lot of improvement to come isn’t a bad feeling.”
/origin-imgresizer.eurosport.com/2024/06/21/3991114-80997988-2560-1440.jpg)
Southgate: 'No excuses' for England in 'anxious' Euro 2024 draw with Denmark
The Everton goalkeeper added: “We are fine, we are chilled, it is tournament football.
“We have the same points after two games as the last two tournaments and I would say we are calm.
"The outside noise is that we have to perform come Tuesday but there is no need to panic.
"We haven’t peaked yet. The narrative is going to change when we start peaking but for now it is all about Tuesday.”
Jarrod Bowen was one of the players who came on against Denmark, as Southgate sought to inject some energy into his side in the second half.
The West Ham winger, in his first major tournament for his country, could be among those brought in from the start against Slovenia, should Southgate look to freshen up his starting XI.
Bowen responded to a question around how the atmosphere is inside the England camp.
He said: "The mood is really high and you try not to get involved in the outside world because what we've got is a real tight group, a real togetherness.
"We're sat here with four points, and it's probably the standards that we've set that it's not two wins. But it's still four points. We're still top of the group and we're still in control of our own destiny.
"And we go with Tuesday's game, win that, and then we're going into the knockouts.
"But there's a lot to get to that win. They [Slovenia] are a really good side, a lot of respect to them. And I think every game is so different.
"It's my first tournament, but the teams that you come up against all pose different threats."
--
discovery+ is the streaming home of the Olympic Games, and the only place you can watch every moment of Paris 2024 this summer.
Scan me
Related Topics
Share this article
Advertisement
Advertisement