Beijing time (CEST) July 2, in the Round of 16 of the World Cup, England will play against the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Before the match, English player Pickford attended a press conference.

Tomorrow you'll play in a covered stadium. How do you feel about that? Also, how much did the high temperatures and humidity from the previous two matches take out of you and your teammates physically?

Pickford: To be honest, I think we've handled it well overall. The training ground in Miami helped us a lot, allowing us to adapt to different environments during the preparation phase, so now we're able to cope with any situation. For me, indoor matches are ideal, like the one we played in Dallas earlier—the conditions are good and it won't be as uncomfortable. In the previous two matches, we've also encountered various weather and pitch conditions, including rain. So we're used to dealing with all kinds of environments and we're well prepared for them. This also shows that we have an excellent team. The coaching staff and the entire support team have provided us with the best support that the England team can get. Next, the most important thing is that we really show all of this on the pitch.

Looking at the penalty shootouts that have already concluded, it seems many players weren't stopped by the goalkeeper's save, but rather under the psychological pressure from the keeper, they either sent the ball wide or even missed the target entirely. Is this also part of your penalty shootout training?

Pickford: If the opposition misses a penalty, of course that's good for the goalkeeper. I think each one is different. Every goalkeeper has their own way and their own preparation process. So we have our own methods too. Just like Bounou's saves last night. Each save is different—he managed to put the opposition player off, and that kind of situation does happen. But that's football. Each one is different.

As the manager just said, penalty shootouts are very stressful. Ultimately, it all comes down to execution and the habits built through continuous training. And that's what we've been preparing for.

Recently I've been working hard to improve my penalty-stopping techniques, especially my diving actions and reaction speed. Tonight, I might have a brief session with the goalkeeper coach for specific training, and then finish my preparations. But overall, this has always been our process. As the manager said, this system has been in place for many years. We'll continue with it. We've also had a good record in this regard over the last six or eight years.

I'm curious—do players ever think about the weight of responsibility on their shoulders? After all, England hasn't won the World Cup in 60 years. As an England player, what would winning the World Cup mean to you?

Pickford: It's everyone's dream and a lifelong goal. Every time I represent England, every time I wear this shirt, I feel immense pride. As an England player, every time I pull on this shirt, I'm filled with passion. Of course, winning the World Cup is our dream. But in the process of achieving that dream, there are many stages that need to be completed step by step. Right now, our first task is tomorrow's match against the Democratic Republic of the Congo. That's also our sole focus at this moment. As for the World Cup title, that's an objective for later. What's most important now is facing the Democratic Republic of the Congo, rather than thinking about things beyond that.

First we need to complete tomorrow's task, prepare thoroughly as we're doing now, and then give everything. For me, records like clean sheets are certainly important. But I've always said that football is a team sport. Everyone can see that the whole team is working hard. Whether it's Kane up front, or the 11 starting players, or the teammates coming on as substitutes, each of us is working hard to help the team keep a clean sheet. Because we know what kind of attacking power we have. So the clean sheet statistic certainly makes me happy. But I always believe this is the result of the team's collective effort. Therefore, I won't take too much credit for it. As I just said, playing for England means everything. And then it's about progressing.

As the tournament progresses from the group stage to the Round of 16, and then further if we keep advancing, the pressure of competition will become increasingly intense. As a player, how do you personally handle this mounting pressure? And how does the whole team manage it?

Pickford: I think the team has handled it well. Many people in our squad have rich experience in club competitions. Some have won the Champions League, others have won the FA Cup, the League Cup, and various other championships. As for me, this is my fifth major tournament. So for me, pressure is something to be enjoyed. Of course, everyone is different. Some people might be more nervous. But I think pressure often brings out the best in us. For me, whenever I face pressure, I always feel I can perform even better. There's always someone who needs to step up in critical moments. And I think that's exactly what the England squad has been doing.

Traducido por IA.

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