Pickford's penalty save earns point for England U21s

Although on his knees, Pickford stuck up his right mitt to keep the ball out and easily gathered in the follow up.

In terms of Holgate, steady as usual and that one terrific saving tackle... but definitely needs to work on his crossing when he gets forward.

Brian, should we sell him next season, or do you see some small hope?

"I just waited a bit longer, held my ground, dived to the left and got my top hand to it. It's what you do,'' he told Sky Sports.

No mucking about – that was the job: job done! If that's his attitude all-round, he'll do for me!

Pickford held his nerve and saved the penalty, didn't have much to do, dropped a centre that should have been a routine save. He seems a confidant lad giving loads of instructions to his defenders, hard to judge him on 45 minutes.

Holgate made a great tackle stopping a Swedish striker with a clean run on goal. England were poor on the attack and Sweden had most of the game I saw without giving Pickford a lot to do, apart from one shot that hit the bar with the keeper well beaten.

England were totally dominant in the first half-hour and Sweden could barely get out of their half. Holgate was prominent down the right but, as we've seen, overhit pretty much all of his crosses. He was otherwise solid defensively, both with his tackling and speed of recovery.

Pickford didn't have a save to make in the 1st half, but twice he quickly gathered the ball in and once kicked long and accurately, the second time a quick, flat and speedy throw out to swiftly put England on the front foot each time.

By half-time Sweden pushed out more and had parity without really threatening the England goal.

England never regained their opening initiative in the 2nd half and Sweden were probably the better of the two without ever really testing Pickford.

I thought the penalty decision was an awful one. The lad cleanly won the ball without raising his foot. Video referral would surely have overturned the ref's ruling.

The penalty kick was awful, but it still has to be saved and Pickford did that. As you and others mentioned, he did flap at a routine cross he should have easily gathered in, but no harm came from it.

The U-20 games offered far more entertainment and interest.

What's wrong with side-to-side crab and backwards football.

More of it, I say! ;-)

Jay's description of the game was accurate. England 1st half, stuttered through the 2nd, Sweden better.

As for Pickford, (cross aside) he was steady, even the penalty save was regulation, as was the follow-up.

Good presence and his trademark distribution evident.

Holgate can't cross but, then again, he is a centre-half. Not very impressed with any of the others, bar Abrahams looked lively.

I notice the press starting to put pressure on Pickford and referring to him as the £30 million goal-keeper. There will be many (non Evertonians) who will dissect his every action and gleefully highlight his every mistake.

Evertonians need to get behind him, keep expectations realistic especially in the first season. Even De Gea did not really impress in his first season at Man United, and then gradually improved to become one of the best in the world. Pickford will need time and patience, and fortunately he will play in front of one of the most knowledgeable supporters in the game!

Some of the U21s looked lethargic and gave me the impression they were just meeting for the first time. No great hopes of them completing a double for England, but hope they can prove me wrong.

As others have said, Holgate had a lot to do down his side and defended very well, but let himself down with his crossing.

God almighty, Dignitas is finished, come on here if you want to end it all death is a blessed relief after reading a few threads.

I'll bet anyone a Thousand Tramadol to a couple of drops of cyanide that he is Everton's first choice goalie next season.

I hope he is even half as good as the best goalie ever to pull the Everton shirt on. I think he is a similar kind of goalie too. Throw his body at anything.

To answer your question, England played a flat back four and Holgate played right back, exactly as Koeman has pretty much played him all season.

More than one seasoned coach not yet willing to play him at centre back just yet then.

He had a good game, but his crossing as ever was poor, as was Chilwell's on the other flank from left back.