England vs Colombia: Jordan Henderson 'forever in debt' to Jordan Pickford

The Liverpool captain had a penalty saved by David Ospina on Tuesday night, but Colombia missed two including Pickford's match-winning save

Jordan Henderson said he will “forever be in the debt” of Jordan Pickford after the goalkeeper’s penalty heroics stopped Henderson’s miss from costing England a place in the World Cup quarter-finals.

Liverpool captain Henderson had a penalty saved by David Ospina on Tuesday night, but Colombia missed two, Pickford famously saving from Carlos Bacca, for England to win the shoot-out 4-3.

Henderson and Pickford, both from Sunderland, embraced afterwards. Henderson thanked Pickford for saving the team, as well as his own reputation, with that crucial save from Bacca.

“I thanked him, I can't thank him enough,” Henderson said after Tuesday’s game. “I am forever in his debt. He says the Mackems stick together!” Pickford says that he said to Henderson: “Jesus, I’ve helped you out there lad.”

Henderson was closely supported by team-mates including Kieran Trippier following his miss, which he said was testament to the bonds in the squad. “We are a really close group, I think you can see that,” Henderson said. “It's difficult when you miss. Nothing can be said that’s going to make it alright. But it's not about me and it doesn’t really matter now.”

While Henderson’s miss will be forgotten soon enough, Pickford’s save will be remembered forever. That, and his athletic dive to his left to keep out a volley from Uribe just before Colombia’s equaliser made this a memorable game for the young goalkeeper. Those two saves were also a riposte of sorts to Thibaut Courtois, after the the Chelsea and Belgium keeper joked that Pickford was not tall enough to keep out Adnan Januzaj’s goal in Kaliningrad last week.

Henderson said he was delighted for Pickford in part because of that. “He got a bit of criticism last week, undeservedly so, I am so happy for him to achieve that tonight,” Henderson said. “He made some fantastic saves in the game, delighted for him delighted for everyone.”

Henderson's miss proved not to be costly (REUTERS) (Reuters)

Pickford said that he did not mind what other goalkeepers said about his height or his style. “It doesn't annoy me,” he said. “I know if I can do better, I know myself straight away. It doesn't take people to criticise me. I had a right go at the Belgium save, and if I save it people would say 'what a save'. If any other keeper in the tournament had a go like that, and it goes in, nothing would have been said.”

Eric Dier revealed that Southgate told him before the shoot-out that he would be taking the fifth penalty, rather than Dier having to volunteer for it. Southgate had checked the injury status of the players on the pitch - Vardy was feeling tightness - which is why DIer took the crucial kick. Dier revealed how nervous he was before taking it.

“At the time, I don't really know what I was thinking about to be honest,” he said. “While you're waiting to take it it's nerve-wracking. But once I walked up, when I was going to take it I was quite calm to be honest. I was very nervous while standing waiting but once I walked up there, I was alright."