A clean sheet is the term used in football when a goalkeeper and his team do not allow their opponents to score any goals during the full duration of the match.
It is an important statistic that the custodian yearns for and in a way could be considered similar to the goals scored by an outfield player.
Both teams earn a clean sheet if a match ends in a stalemate or a 0-0 draw after regulation time or extra time. Penalty shootout wins or losses are not considered while counting clean sheets.
When it comes to keeping a clean sheet or a shutout, the goalkeepers’ role assumes utmost importance as there are no second chances for him since once a goal is conceded, shot-stoppers lose their clean sheet.
On the contrary, a striker can miss a number of chances but can make good with others that come his way by converting into the back of the net.
For a goalie, though, a missed goal can never be reversed, leaving no room for error as he loses any chance of registering a clean sheet.
UEFA Euro 2024 kicked off in Germany on June 14 with 24 teams in Europe vying for continental supremacy.
Though there is no official Golden Glove award presented at the Euros, all the goalkeepers involved have an unsaid and unofficial race to win the award adjudging them to be the best goalkeeper in the tournament.
A week into what’s been an action-packed and goal-filled Euro 2024, and there have been half a dozen clean sheets so far.
Spain was the first team to get a clean sheet in Euro 2024 when custodian Unai Simon kept Luka Modric’s Croatia at bay during a 3-0 win.
England’s Jordan Pickford also staved off challenges to beat Serbia 1-0 as he looks to finish with the most clean sheets in Euros for the second successive edition after keeping the most clean sheets in Euro 2020 courtesy of five clean shutouts in seven games.
With that in mind, here’s a look at the players with the most clean sheets in Euro 2024.
Most clean sheets in Euro 2024
|
Rank |
Player |
Country |
Clean Sheets |
|
1 |
Unai Simon |
Spain |
2 |
|
2 |
Jordan Pickford |
England |
1 |
|
3 |
Florin Nita |
Romania |
1 |
|
4 |
Martin Dubravka |
Slovakia |
1 |
|
5 |
Mike Maignan |
France |
1 |
|
6 |
Manuel Neuer |
Germany |
1 |
Photo credit: Unsplash
