Argentina’s triumphant squad found an unexpected source of amusement following their dramatic 2-1 victory over England in the World Cup semi-final: England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford’s discarded penalty cheat sheet. The Everton stopper’s water bottle, complete with detailed notes on how to face each Argentine player from the spot, was discovered by Lionel Messi and his teammates as they celebrated their progression to the final.
The match, which saw Anthony Gordon open the scoring for England before Enzo Fernandez equalised, appeared to be heading for extra time and a potential penalty shootout. However, Lautaro Martinez secured a late winner for the reigning champions in injury time, booking their place in Sunday's final against European champions Spain. For England, the bitter defeat means a third-place play-off against 2022 finalists France on Saturday.
Footage circulating on social media showed the Argentina squad gathered around the water bottle, which Pickford had left behind on the pitch. Messi, Fernandez, Nicolas Gonzalez, and Marcos Senesi were among those seen studying the instructions, visibly amused by the level of detail. Chelsea's Fernandez notably raised his eyebrows and pointed skyward after reading that Pickford's plan for his penalty was simply to 'stand central'.
The notes contained specific strategies for each Argentine player. For captain Lionel Messi, Pickford intended to 'fake left - dive right'. Julian Alvarez's penalty would prompt a 'dive left', while goalscorer Lautaro Martinez's spot-kick would see Pickford 'dive right'. The discovery has since been widely shared, with Argentina’s fitness coach Luis Martin reportedly among those who initially circulated images of the detailed instructions, though his post now appears to have been removed.
While the cheat sheet ultimately proved unnecessary for the semi-final, the information could potentially be useful for Spain, who will now prepare to face Argentina in the World Cup final. The knowledge of Pickford’s strategies, even if specific to his approach, offers a glimpse into the meticulous preparation involved at the highest level of international football.