Euros viewers in stitches at Jordan Pickford's gesture to England fans before kick-off
England fans are buzzing with Jordan Pickford's reaction to the crowd just before kick-off.
Ahead of the first game against Serbia this evening (16 June), the Everton goalkeeper said he was embracing the pressure this time around.
The 30-year-old has racked up 61 caps and has remained as Southgate's number one goalkeeper throughout the last three competitions.
It's a 'major honour'
“There was no pressure on us in Russia in 2018,” he said at the Euro 2024 press conference.
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“To be a top, elite team you have got to have pressure.
“You have got to deal with it.
“To be one of the favourites, you have got to enjoy that pressure.
“It is always exciting to be part of England in a major tournament.
“A lot of hard work behind the scenes, I’ve got to keep performing for the club which I think I have done.
“I’ve won 61 caps which is a major honour and to be in my fourth tournament.”
Pickford is loving it
Finally, our summer has begun and England are off to a great start in our opening match.
Jude Bellingham scored our first goal of the campaign and it's given us a 1-0 lead at half time.
Prior to the match though, Pickford showed no signs of nerves and was riling up the crowd with a cheeky fist pump motion - fans loved it.
Jamie Carragher posted four laughing faces on X, while other fans were loving his 'determination'.
"My lord," someone else commented, as a third said: "He's a top-notch goalkeeper, England are in good hands."
In case you missed it, here's what he did:
'Clean sheets are key'
"To get to a final, to win a tournament you have got to have a good clean sheet record," Pickford added before the match.
“For us, it’s about getting as many clean sheets as we can because everybody in the room knows the ability we have up top.
“The most important thing for us is to win the first game, get out of the group, game by game focus on each game as it comes because you can’t look too far ahead.
“Everyone’s goal is to lift that trophy but it takes a hell of a lot of hard work to get there. There’ll be nothing more proud to lift that trophy and to bring it home for the fans but there is so much hard work to do first.
“You can’t look too far ahead but I know all the England fans will be rooting for us. They are passionate, everywhere in the country will be rooting for us and they’ll be having a good few days on the booze so it’ll be good.”
England's remaining Euro 2024 group stage fixtures
Thursday, 20 June - Group C: Denmark vs England (Waldstadion, Frankfurt - kick-off 5pm BST)
Tuesday, 25 June - Group C: England vs Slovenia (RheinEnergieStadion, Cologne - kick-off 8pm BST)
Anish Vij