‘If the ball goes centre of the net your keeper has to save that’: Gary Neville insists Jordan Pickford should have done better for Mikkel Damsgaard’s free-kick, but Ian Wright calls his ITV pundit ‘harsh’ as the Denmark star deserves credit for strike
- Mikkel Damsgaard gave Denmark the lead over England with a well hit free-kick
- England got an equaliser when Simon Kjaer put the ball in the back of his net
- Gary Neville said Jordan Pickford should have done better for Denmark’s goal
- Ian Wright said Neville was ‘harsh’ and that Damsgaard deserved the plaudits
Gary Neville says Jordan Pickford should have done better with the goal that gave Denmark the lead against England in their Euro 2020 semi-final.
Gareth Southgate’s squad conceded their first goal of the tournament as Mikkel Damsgaard’s free-kick beat Pickford to find the net.
England went into half-time all square as Denmark captain Simon Kjaer put the ball in his own net from a Bukayo Saka cross.
Mikkel Damsgaard gave Denmark with a well-struck free-kick after 30 minutes
Gary Neville (right) says Jordan Pickford (left) should have done better with the goal
During his half-time analysis on ITV, Gary Neville said that Pickford would be ‘disappointed’ with the goal which put their opponents ahead.
When asked whether Pickford could have done better, the former England international said: ‘Most definitely.
‘I think we feared the worst when it was being lined up as Roy (Keane) said the goal was coming.
‘Denmark were getting through us far too easily, our back four were getting pulled apart it’s a long way out, and I think if the ball goes in the corner you’ve got no problem.’
Co-pundit Ian Wright disagreed and said he would prefer to give credit to the Denmark player for his free-kick.
He said: ‘That wall and the strike, Damsgaard has got to get a lot of praise for the way he’s hit that ball.
Damsgaard’s free-kick which put Denmark 1-0 ahead did not go in the corner of the goal
Ian Wright defender Pickford saying he ‘wouldn’t have seen the ball’ until late on
‘Pickford sees that right at the end, that’s harsh, they’ve targeted him, they’ve targeted Maguire as well with Braithwaite and you have to give credit to Damsgaard for that free-kick.’
Though England went into the half all square, the ITV pundits had concerns over England’s first-half performance.
Neville added: The wider game we’ve been so frantic, not just in possession in the final third, but actually our full-backs.
‘We’ve got to make sure they’re attached to our centre-backs. Luke and Kyle are trying to go too early to engage with their wing backs which leaves Maguire and Stones at times.’
Denmark’s goal was the first that England have conceded so far at Euro 2020