JORDAN PICKFORD hummed the England song ‘Going All The Way’ as he left his man-of-the-match press conference.
Crucially, Pickford’s masterclass against the Swedes proved he is also on his way to closing the gap on the Premier League’s top keepers.
And he is certain to face one of them if the Three Lions reach the final.
Should Pickford and Co shine against Croatia on Wednesday — and the Everton keeper was immense in our last two games — he will face Tottenham’s Hugo Lloris or Chelsea’s Thibaut Courtois on Sunday.
Pickford’s saves in this tournament have even drawn comparisons with the great Gordon Banks.
And our 1966 World Cup-winning keeper, 80, has lavished praise on the 24-year-old, saying: “He’s done exceptionally well and kept us in the World Cup, without any question.”
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Gordon Banks: 'He's done exceptionally well'
BY ROB MAUL
GORDON BANKS did not believe Jordan Pickford was the right keeper for the World Cup campaign.
But England’s 1966 World Cup winner now admits he has completely changed his mind, praising the Everton man for his heroics in Russia.
Banks, 80, famous for his 1970 World Cup save from Pele, said: “Before it all started, I thought Jack Butland was going to get in the team.
“I was surprised he did not because he had been playing well at Stoke.
“Pickford came in instead. I had not seen much of him, only the odd game or two on TV — but he has done exceptionally well.
“I don’t think Jack could have played any better. Pickford has certainly kept us in the World Cup.
“That save in the top corner from Colombian Mateus Uribe was fabulous. Terrific. Superb.”
Banks, who played for England between 1963 and 1972, added: “I made the odd one or two saves myself, but not too many in top corners.
“I might have been flying through the air and bashing on the ground but the ball was usually in the back in the net.”
A TV peak of 19.9million viewers watched England cruise past Sweden 2-0 and Banks, like everybody else, has been caught up in the patriotism and excitement.
He said: “This World Cup has really drawn people to watch it and read about it.
“Manager Gareth Southgate has got them to believe in themselves, believe in a team game, work for each other, defend when they have to, attack when they have to.
“If they keep doing it, they have a chance of bringing back the World Cup.
“That would be fabulous for us.”
It would be ironic if he came face-to-face with Courtois again after the Belgian mocked his height following their 1-0 win in the group stages.
Although the Stamford Bridge keeper has since attempted to explain his comments in a sort of apology.
Despite having made just eight senior appearances, Pickford’s improvement for the Three Lions has been spectacular. Quizzed about closing the gap on Lloris and Courtois, he said: “It is only my second season in the Premier League and I do not feel far away from guys like that.
“I got a lot of games under my belt in the lower leagues and don’t feel the Premier League, or out here, is that much different.
Peter Shilton: 'It's a big time for the country... we've got to believe'
PETER SHILTON is backing Gareth Southgate to keep England grounded before their first World Cup semi-final in 28 years.
England’s most capped player kept goal when West Germany beat Bobby Robson’s side on penalties in 1990.
Shilton, 68, said: “Obviously, you know that you’re getting very close to the final and you do get a bit excited.
“The one thing that’s come across with this squad is they’ve kept their feet on the floor, and I think that’s the right approach.”
Jubilant scenes up and down the country greeted the quarter-final win over Sweden on Saturday and Harry Kane and his team-mates have watched some of the celebrations.
Shilton said: “It’s strange to witness the hype and how excited the crowds are because that’s what it must have been like in Italia 90 when we got to the semis.
“But we didn’t know all that over there, we never experienced it. Gareth Southgate’s letting the team see one or two clips of the fans and that’s good.
“It’s good the players understand it’s a big time for the country.”
Should Southgate’s team go one step further than in 1990, they would meet either France or Belgium in their first World Cup final in over half a century.
The team that went that far in 1966 went on to win the tournament, and 125-cap Shilton said: “We’ve got to believe.
“France and Belgium have proven to be really good sides. Brazil going out was a great bonus for us.
“We can beat Croatia, get in the final and anything can happen. It’s going to be tough but let’s say it’s definitely coming home.”
“In some ways, non-league and League Two is the hard challenge.
“I just work hard every day to become the best keeper I can.
“I don’t worry about being the best keeper in the tournament. I just focus on being the best I possibly can for myself and for the team.”
As for potentially meeting Courtois in the final, he said: “It is just a game of football. I don’t let anything like that bother me — I’m just a normal lad.
“I never put myself up against anybody. I don’t think that is right because every keeper is different.
“Everyone has their own strengths and everyone has things they can work on. I just judge myself on my own game and not on anyone else. I know how good I am feeling right now, which means I know how well I can perform in these games.”
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David Seaman: 'He's proving people wrong'
DAVID SEAMAN reckons Jordan Pickford is loving silencing his critics at the World Cup.
Everton star Pickford, 24, found himself under fire in the group stages as he got to grips with being England’s new No 1.
But he made several superb saves in Saturday’s 2-0 quarter- final win over Sweden, following his penalty heroics against Colombia in the last-16.
And Seaman said: “You can see when he makes good saves he loves to celebrate them — and why not?
“He’s doing this on the world’s biggest stage and coming off the back of a little bit of criticism.
“He’s relishing the fact that he’s proving people wrong.
“Some of the criticism for the goal against Belgium, when he went with the top hand, was unjust, but boy has he replied in the right way.”
Seaman is also chuffed that former international team-mate Gareth Southgate is thriving as a manager.
The pair were regulars the last time England reached a major semi-final — on home soil at Euro 96.
But Seaman never had Southgate down as a future England boss.
The Arsenal legend said: “People like Tony Adams, Paul Ince, and even Alan Shearer, those three would have been top of your list. But not Gareth.
“To be doing what he’s doing now, in the style he’s doing it, the way that he’s presented himself — it’s brilliant.”
And Seaman is convinced Southgate’s men have what it takes to beat Croatia in Wednesday’s semi-final.
He said: “Croatia have got a great midfield and a great striker, but we’ve got great players all over the pitch.”
As for being a normal lad, like many of his team-mates, Pickford is clearly an England fan.
And that has not always been the case with players in previous squads, who have been more concerned with themselves and their club football.
He added: “I’m a fan myself. I’m passionate and fans are going mental at home. I sang on the pitch after we beat Sweden, yes. Well, we won so I joined in!”
Now there will be youngsters asking their parents to get them an England goalkeeper shirt with Pickford’s name on the back.
Smiling, he added: “Yes, that makes me feel good. It’s obviously nice. I am just a normal lad from Washington and just keep plugging away.
“If that is happening it means I am doing my best for my country, family and myself.”