Italy legend Walter Zenga expressed his sympathy for Jordan Pickford after the England goalkeeper’s penalty shoot-out heroics counted for nothing in the Euro 2020 final, speaking to Sky Italia, via Tuttomercatoweb.
If there was one player who didn’t deserve to fall on the wrong side of history on a rainy Wembley night, it was Pickford.
After all, how often does a goalkeeper save two penalties in a single shoot-out and still end up with a silver medal around his neck?
The Everton glovesman denied Andrea Belotti and the usually sub-zero Jorginho from 12 yards but devastating misses from Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho and Bukayo Saka meant England’s long wait for a major international trophy goes on.
Pickford’s Euro 2020 heroics count for nothing
“Do you see how the fate of us goalkeepers is? Pickford has saved two penalties, like (Gianluigi) Donnarumma, but no one will remember that Pickford saved two,” said Zenga, who suffered shoot-out heartbreak himself during Italia 90 as the Azzurri lost in the semi-finals to Argentina.
“And (Pickford) saved a very difficult one (from Jorginho).
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“I am doubly happy for Donnarumma. I have always said he would have a great Euros and he proved it. He is 22. I will never tire of repeating it.”
Pickford made a number of eye-catching saves even before the shoot-out, including a stunning stop seconds before Leonardo Bonucci’s 67th minute equaliser.
And that, in many ways, summed up his night – Pickford’s brilliance counting for nothing in the end.
It really is a cruel game, football.
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