Belgium's Thibaut Courtois plays down row with World Cup rival Jordan Pickford: 'He is a great goalkeeper'

The Belgium No. 1 previously said he would have saved the goal Pickford conceded to Adnan Januzaj

Thibaut Courtois has praised Jordan Pickford as a “great goalkeeper” after criticising the England No. 1 for conceding to Adnan Januzaj in the group stage match between the two nations.

Courtois' comments came after Belgium's 1-0 win against England in the group stages of the World Cup when Adnan Januzaj scored past Pickford. He said: “The goalkeeper is 10cm smaller than me. I would have caught it. He was too busy throwing his legs in the air.”

However after Belgium’s 1-0 victory over Brazil in the World Cup quarter-finals, Courtois moved to quash talk of a dispute between the pair.

“This thing about Jordan Pickford, I want to make it clear, I never mocked his height,” Courtois said.

“He is a great goalkeeper. I want to make that clear.”

Courtois made a series of superb saves to deny Brazil and added that he was proud to have played so well given the criticism he has received this season.

"I have been unfairly criticised a lot this year, today I proved again who I am and why I am here,” he said.

“I know Neymar likes to curl it that way, I was ready and made a good save. Our tactical plan was great. We felt it was our day. It is a childhood dream to be in the World Cup.”