Jordan Pickford has been criticised for his behaviour against Slovakia (Image: Getty)
England keeper Jordan Pickford has come under harsh criticism from the Dutch press following the Three Lions' win over Slovakia. Gareth Southgate's men managed to squeeze into the last eight with a nail-biting 2-1 victory, with Jude Bellingham coming to the rescue with a stunning overhead kick in the final minute of the game to salvage a draw and force extra time.
Harry Kane then scored a header to secure a meeting with Switzerland in the quarter-finals. The narrow nature of the victory wasn't exactly a shock, though. England have struggled throughout the tournament, prompting widespread condemnation and predictions of an early exit should they fail to improve.
But while much of the blame has been directed towards manager Southgate, it appears that Pickford's behaviour has especially irked the Dutch media. Some found his exuberant celebrations, which included a loud roar after a late catch, excessive. Others just seemed rubbed up the wrong way by the goalkeeper's demeanour altogether.
Johan Derksen, speaking on Today Inside Oranje, was particularly scathing: "What really bothers me about that team is that terrible Everton goalkeeper. A goalkeeper with sagging socks, who looks like a goalkeeper from the sixth team of an amateur club."
Dutch commentator Wilfred Genee also joined the backlash, quipping: "Did you see how happy he was at the end, when he had that ball? It wasn't good! He had to be admitted, that guy. He was lying there and I think he is not well anymore. Something happened, laughing gas?" Subsequently, Derksen stated: "He has been behaving like this all year at Everton."
Jude Bellingham also came in for criticism for his antics (Image: Getty)
Pickford, 30, has played every game for England at Euro 2024, having established himself as Southgate's No.1 keeper back in 2018. He's racked up 65 caps in total for his country - a tally just four goalies have bettered.
The Toffees ace hasn't had an awful lot to do out in Germany, but was called into action a few times against Slovakia. At the start of the second half he was very nearly lobbed from the half-way line, though thankfully for Pickford, and England, who were 1-0 down at the time, the ball trickled wide of the post.
Pickford wasn't the only England star who was lambasted for his antics after the game. Bellingham was subject of a UEFA probe after making an X-rated gesture at the Slovakian bench, and his comments after the match - taking swipes at England's fans for being critical of the team's performance throughout the tournament - didn't exactly go down well either.
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