Pickford out to keep it clean for a record seventh match

ENGLAND’S clean sheet against Wales made it the first time they have gone a year without conceding a goal.

However, manager Gareth Southgate has warned they face two much tougher tests.

Tomorrow’s game against Belgium marks the anniversary of the last time England conceded a goal in a 2- 1 defeat in the Czech Republic.

They have shut out Bulgaria, Montenegro, Kosovo, Iceland, Denmark and Wales since.

England have twice gone six full games without giving away a goal but never seven.

Southgate said: “Our Euro 2020 qualifying group was one in which we didn’t really have the intense defensive test you need.

“So the games against Belgium and Denmark are a better indication of how you are operating against nations closer to the top of the rankings.

“Belgium, we know the outstanding players they have, but also the length of time their squad has been playing in a very settled fashion. hion.

“It is one e of the biggest challenges we could have outside the likes of France and Spain. They have been No1 in the world for so long and so it’s a game we’re really looking forward to.” Jordan Pickford is expected once again to take over the gloves against Belgium after Nick Pope, below, played the full 90 minutes against Wales on Thursday.

A clean sheet would beat the run of 631 minutes with without conceding a goal, created in 2006 2 by four minut minutes. However However, it is still short of the 708 g goalless England minutes went until Eusebio scored a la late penalty a against th them in the 1966 World Cup semi- final.