Get the FREE Mirror Football newsletter by email with the day's key headlines and transfer news Invalid Email Something went wrong, please try again later. Sign up Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Thibaut Courtois made a point of clarifying his comments about Jordan Pickford, after it was claimed he mocked the England goalkeeper's height. The Chelsea shot-stopper helped guide his team to the semi-final of the World Cup with a win over Brazil on Friday, and spoke to the BBC after the contest. He concluded his interview saying: "I want to clarify something about Jordan. I would never mock the height of a goalkeeper, he had a great year, I said because he got a touch I maybe would have saved it because I'm a little bit taller." Courtois made his initial comments about Pickford after Belgium beat England in Group G. (Image: AFP) Pickford was beaten by a long-range Adnan Januzaj shot on the night, and the Everton shot-stopper was criticised for diving with the wrong hand. But he apparently hit back at the Chelsea keeper a few days later, saying: "I have got power and agility. "I don't care if I'm not the biggest keeper because it's about being there in the moment and making the save, and I was," he said after the clash. "It is all about the set position and I got a hand to it. I did all my research. (Image: Getty) "We knew we had this game, even if it had to go to penalties, we knew we were capable of winning." He then went on to redeem himself with a great save against Colombia, before keeping out a penalty in England's dramatic shoot-out win.<doc-sep>Pickford took some stick for failing to keep out Adnan Januzaj's winning goal during their final Group G clash Belgium’s Thibaut Courtois has said he “never mocked” England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford’s height after the two teams played each other in the group stages of the World cup. Pickford received some criticism for conceding Adnan Januzaj’s curling effort as the Red Devils ran out 1-0 winners in their final Group G clash. 2 Pickford was unable to keep out Januzaj’s strike In an interview with Belgian media, 6ft 4ins Courtois is reported to have said Pickford is “10cm smaller than me” and he “would have caught” the shot. However, Everton stopper Pickford, who is 6ft 1in, was the hero in England’s last 16 victory over Colombia where he brilliantly saved a Carlos Bacca spot-kick to set the Three Lions up for their first ever victory on penalties at a World Cup. Pickford responded by saying: “I don’t care if I’m not the biggest keeper.” Speaking after the last-16 shootout win over Colombia, Pickford added: “I’ve been criticised for going with my top hand, but as long as you save it, that’s all that counts. 2 Pickford was the star of the show during England’s win on penalties against Colombia “I might be young but I have got good mental strength and experience and I used that today.” And speaking after Belgium’s remarkable quarter-final win over Brazil, Courtois, who plies his trade at Chelsea, moved to explain his comments calling his Premier League rival “a great goalkeeper”. Courtois said: “This thing about Jordan – I want to say and clarify it because I heard a lot of stuff. I never mocked his height, I want to make that clear, because I would never mock the height of a goalkeeper. “I only said that, because he got a touch, I would have saved it because I am 15cm taller, but I never mocked his height. He is a great goalkeeper. I want to make that clear.” Latest World Cup news change FIFA considering proposals to hold men's and women's World Cup every two years England face Sweden in the quarter-finals of the World Cup on Saturday at 3pm – a game you can listen to live on talkSPORT.<doc-sep>THIBAUT COURTOIS has denied mocking Jordan Pickford over the England hero's height. The Belgian goalkeeper made the remarks after Adnan Januzaj scored past the Three Lions stopper during the final group stage game last week. 4 Belgian star Thibaut Courtois has clarified his comments over Jordan Pickford's height Credit: Getty Images - Getty 4 The stopper appeared to mock the height of the Three Lions ace Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd Courtois said after Belgium's 1-0 victory over England: "The goalkeeper is 10cm smaller than me. "I would have caught it. He was too busy throwing his legs in the air." The Chelsea star was heavily criticised following his words. However, after helping his nation to overcome Brazil on Friday to seal a spot in the World Cup semi-finals, the 26-year-old moved to clarify his remarks. 4 His comments came after Adnan Januzaj had beaten Pickford to clinch victory for Belgium over England last week Credit: Reuters 4 Pickford was the hero for England as his save inthe shoot-out helped England defeat Colombia on penalties on Tuesday Credit: Reuters Speaking to the BBC, Courtois made a point of saying: "I never mocked his height, I just want to make that clear. "I would never mock the height of a goalkeeper. I think he’s a great goalkeeper. "I’m just 15cm taller, it’s a fact. "I’m not mocking his height, he’s an excellent keeper and has shown that this year." LATEST WORLD CUP 2018 NEWS WHAT A JEN How old is Jermaine Jenas and what's his net worth? MEDALS 1 CAPS 0 Stars who won World Cup without playing a single game, like Fulham's Areola HORROR ORDEAL Brit gang-rape victims bravely fought off attacker by biting him, say cops RU BEAUTY Who is Ruby Mae and how long has she been with Dele Alli? PRETTY WOMAN Amanda Holden spotted in £85 Forever Unique 'Pretty Woman' dress Cheap as kits Here's where you can get England's 2018 football kit the cheapest Pickford shut up his critics on Tuesday night with a superb display to help England overcome Colombia on penalties to reach the last-eight. And the Everton man will be hoping for more joy and a clean sheet when he and his team-mates battle Sweden on Saturday for a place in the semis.<doc-sep>
The Belgium No.1 had appeared to suggest his opposite number with England wasn't tall enough but insists he was misunderstood Thibaut Courtois insists he would ‘never mock the height of a goalkeeper’ following criticism of England’s Jordan Pickford. Following Belgium’s 1-0 win over England in the World Cup group phase, Pickford was criticised for failing to keep out Adnan Januzaj’s winner. Speaking after that game, Courtois had suggested his height advantage over Pickford of around four inches would have seen him save Januzaj’s shot. "The goalkeeper is 10cm smaller than me," he told Voetball24 . "I would have caught it. He was too busy throwing his legs in the air." The Chelsea keeper’s comments provoked a reaction from Pickford after the England No.1 delivered a starring role in the Three Lions’ penalty shootout victory over Colombia in the last 16. Pickford produced a flying save before Colombia scored their equaliser and then brilliantly kept out Carlos Bacca’s spot-kick in the shootout. "I have got power and agility,” said Pickford on Tuesday after the win over Colombia . “I don't care if I'm not the biggest keeper because it's about being there in the moment and making the save, and I was. "It is all about the set position and I got a hand to it. I did all my research. "I was in a massive whirlwind but I saved it with my left hand. I've been criticised for going with my top hand, but as long as you save it, that's all that counts. "I might be young but I've got good mental strength and experience and I used that today.” However, after helping Belgium to knock out World Cup favourites Brazil in the quarter-finals, Courtois stressed he did not mock Pickford. Article continues below Courtois, who made an excellent one-handed stop from Neymar late on, told the BBC : "Can I say one more thing? “This thing about Jordan... I want to clarify it because I heard a lot of stuff. I never mocked his height, I want to make that clear. I would never mock the height of a goalkeeper - I think that he's a great goalkeeper, he proved that last year. “I only said that because he got a touch, maybe I would have saved it because I'm 15cm taller than him - I never mocked his height because I know he's a great goalkeeper. I want to make that clear!"