England goalkeeper sets an unprecedented record against Wales

On the day Thomas Tuchel entrusted him to start against Wales, Jordan Pickford delivered another outstanding performance by keeping a clean sheet, thereby achieving a record never before accomplished by an England player.

England continued their dominant form under coach Thomas Tuchel by defeating Wales 3-0 in an international friendly early this morning. Three first-half goals from Morgan Rogers, Ollie Watkins, and Bukayo Saka secured an easy victory for the “Three Lions,” extending their impressive run to six wins out of seven matches since Tuchel took charge. Notably, in those six wins, England did not concede a single goal, highlighting the solidity and discipline the German coach has instilled.

While the offense is thriving, at the back, Jordan Pickford is making history in English football. The Everton goalkeeper kept another clean sheet against Wales, becoming the first England keeper to keep a clean sheet in eight consecutive matches (playing full 90 minutes).

Previously, the longest clean sheet streak was held by legend Gordon Banks, who kept seven consecutive clean sheets in 1966, the historic summer when the “Three Lions” won the World Cup. Nearly 60 years later, Pickford has broken that record, cementing his strong position as England’s number one goalkeeper.

Importantly, Pickford’s clean sheet streak didn’t start under Tuchel. He kept two clean sheets against Ireland and Greece in November 2024 under interim coach Lee Carsley. After Tuchel took over, Pickford maintained his flawless form, becoming England’s most reliable last line of defense over the past year.

In the match against Wales, Pickford was only called into action twice, demonstrating the home side’s complete dominance. Under Tuchel, England not only score frequently but also control matches so thoroughly that opponents rarely threaten the goal. Quoting talkSPORT, Bukayo Saka said after the game:

“I feel the team has great spirit. In every training session and every match, everyone fights with full effort. You can see Tuchel is building a strong squad with healthy competition and a clear direction.”

Pickford’s consistent performance has effectively ended debates about England’s number one goalkeeper spot. Despite Dean Henderson impressing at Crystal Palace and James Trafford being highly rated at Man City, Tuchel continues to favor Pickford, who has been the national team’s first-choice keeper for many years.

On October 15, England will face Latvia away in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. If he starts, Pickford has the chance to extend his clean sheet streak to nine consecutive matches, a milestone that could stand for many years in English football history.

With a solid defense, well-controlled midfield, and explosive attack, Tuchel seems to be steering the “Three Lions” back on track: a team not only strong individually but also stable, disciplined, and ready to aim for the world’s top.