Some players take it off the moment after it is given to them, some give it away, some take it home but make sure it never sees the light of day. Very few boast about a runners-up medal.
Jordan Pickford does not show it off, does not brandish it as some sort of momentous achievement … but he does use his memento from Euro 2000 as an inspiration to go one better.
More than anyone else in Gareth Southgate ’s squad, Pickford has reason to feel bitter about that defeat to Italy at Wembley in the summer of 2021. His save from Verratti unluckily went on to a post, allowing Bonucci to poach the equaliser and he then saved penalty kicks from Belotti and Jorginho in the shootout, only for his heroics to be in vain.
