Belgium goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois said that he did not mock England counterpart Jordan Pickford’s height after their World Cup group-stage match last week.
But the Chelsea man was keen to clear the air after it was reported he said Pickford was “too small” to be a top-level keeper.
England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford has been criticised in some quarters but was the penalty shoot-out hero for England against Colombia. Photo: AFP
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“This thing about Jordan Pickford, I want to make it clear, I never mocked his height, he is a great goalkeeper. I want to make that clear,” the 26-year-old told the BBC.
Pickford, who is 1.85 metres tall, had been criticised for failing to save Adnan Januzaj’s winner when Belgium beat England 1-0 last Thursday top group G.
Thibaut Courtois is mobbed by Belgium supporters after the quarter-final win over Brazil. Photo: EPA
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“I would never do that to another goalkeeper (criticise his height). I just meant that being 15 centimetres taller, I would have got the ball,” he added.
