Belgium goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois has moved to clarify the remarks he made about his England counterpart Jordan Pickford in the wake of the Red Devils' 1-0 victory over the Three Lions at the World Cup.
The Chelsea stopper was quoted as saying that his opposite number might have saved Adnan Januzaj's winner if he was taller, sparking a spat between the two players.
Courtois, however, has since stated that he meant no offence towards Pickford and did not intend to mock him over his height.
"This thing about Jordan - I want to say and clarify it because I heard a lot of stuff," he told BBC Sport.
"I never mocked his height, I want to make that clear, because I would never mock the height of a goalkeeper. I think he is a great goalkeeper. He proved that this year.
"I only said that, because he got a touch, I would have saved it because I am 15 centimetres taller, but I never mocked his height. He is a great goalkeeper. I want to make that clear."
Belgium will face France in the semi-finals of the World Cup after beating Brazil 2-1 in the quarters.
Mark Langshaw
