Pickford Banks Shutout In England Rout

Jordan Pickford recorded his 13th clean sheet in 30 England appearances as Gareth Southgate's side strolled to Nations League victory over Iceland at Wembley on Wednesday.

England's hopes of qualifying for next year's finals disappeared with defeat in Belgium on Sunday.

But the Three Lions were in complete control from start to finish against an Iceland team missing Everton midfielder Gylfi Sigurdsson.

Declan Rice headed home from a Bukayo Saka free-kick on 20 minutes to give England the lead their early dominance deserved.

Rice's fellow central midfielder Mason Mount swept into the corner for his third senior international goal four minutes later.

Iceland were further exposed by a second yellow card for veteran defender Birkir Már Sævarsson nine minutes after half-time.

And Manchester City dynamo Phil Foden ruthlessly exploited the spaces emerging as a result of his side's numerical advantage.

On only his second England start – and first at home – Foden netted in minutes 80 and 84 to complete the 4-0 success.

The 20-year-old scored his first goal for his country after being set up by Jadon Sancho, then rifled in a low left-foot shot from 25 yards.


Michael Keane was on England's bench but the Everton centre-back didn't have the opportunity to add to his 12 caps. Equally, Dominic Calvert-Lewin didn't feature after playing against Republic of Ireland and Belgium during this get-together.

England finish level on points with Denmark – for whom one of Pickford's Everton understudies Jonas Lossl was an unused substitute in a 4-2 loss in Belgium – but behind the Danes in third due to an inferior head-to-head record.

Cenk Tosun, meanwhile, played 71 minutes of Turkey's 2-0 Nations League defeat in Hungary.

Everton striker Tosun, not long back from a serious knee injury, has gained precious playing time during the November international break.

He was on target when the Turks beat Russia 3-2 on Sunday, adding to a goal in a 3-3 friendly draw with Croatia four days earlier.

The 29-year-old's side were shut out in a tense game in Budapest, however, meaning goals from midfielder David Siger on 57 minutes and Kevin Varga – who plays his club football in Turkey for Kasimpasa – deep into stoppage time were enough for three points.

Turkey's defeat leaves them bottom of Group B3 and relegated to the third tier of Nations League football, while Hungary go the other way, earning promotion to the competition's elite section after topping the four-team table.