NATIONS LEAGUE I didn’t care for scoring, I just wanted to look nice...
Jordan bid for Shilton shut-out
JORDAN PICKFORD is confident he can become the first England goalkeeper to keep a clean sheet in Spain in 36 years.
Not since Peter Shilton in a 0-0 draw at Real Madrid’s Bernabeu stadium in the second round of the 1982 World Cup has an England stopper succeeded in keeping out the Spaniards. Gordon Banks is the only other one to achieve that feat.
Since then, Chris Woods, Paul Robinson, David James and Joe Hart have all tried but failed.
But Pickford believes he can make his own bit of history in the Nations Cup clash in Seville tonight. The Everton goalkeeper, who has now established himself as Gareth Southgate’s No1, said: “My aim is to go into every game and try to keep a clean sheet for the team.
“If that’s by not making a save, that’s ideal. But I prepare all week with the other lads to keep the clean sheet. All I can do is my best.
“Let’s hope I don’t have to make too many saves, but if I’m called upon then yes, I’m ready.”
Pickford believes England should have grabbed a draw in their 2-1 defeat by Spain last month at Wembley, their opening Nations League clash.
Danny Welbeck had a goal harshly disallowed in injury time, and the goalkeeper said: “We were unlucky not to get the draw. It was a refereeing decision. Sometimes you get them sometimes you don’t. We were unfortunate. If we had come away with a draw you’d have taken that all day long.” PICKFORD: History IN SEVILLE RAHEEM STERLING has realised that all the pretty stuff on the pitch means nothing unless you get results.
was going wide, trying to beat a player. Now I’m trying to get on the end of stuff, being around for scraps and trying to make goals for myself.”
That last England goal was the second in a Euro 2016 qualifying victory over Estonia at Wembley 27 appearances ago. Sterling knows his place in the England team is