England’s preparations for a possible World Cup semi-final shootout have been exposed after Lionel Messi and his Argentina teammates discovered Jordan Pickford’s detailed penalty notes.

A photograph of the England goalkeeper’s bottle shows an extensive list titled “Argentina penalty taker list”, with instructions covering more than 20 potential takers.

Beside Messi’s name, the advice reads: “Fake left – dive right.” Enzo Fernández’s entry tells Pickford to “stand central”, while the instruction for Lautaro Martínez is simply: “Dive right.”

Other notes are more detailed. Rodrigo De Paul’s entry reads “stand right – move central – dive left”, while Thiago Almada’s instruction leaves the decision to Pickford with the words: “Feel on the day.”

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The level of detail provides a rare glimpse into England’s planning for a match that could easily have been decided from the spot.

Argentina players gather around the bottle

The bottle became the focus of attention after Argentina’s dramatic 2-1 victory in Atlanta.

Messi, Fernández, Nicolás González and several teammates were filmed gathering around it on the pitch and examining the instructions. Messi appeared to smile and shake his head as the players studied England’s research.

According to The Indian Express’ report on the viral footage, the video attracted millions of views within hours of the final whistle.

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The image suggests England’s analysts had prepared for almost every possible scenario. The list did not stop with Argentina’s established penalty takers but also included substitutes, defenders and goalkeepers such as Gerónimo Rulli.

Several entries instructed Pickford to delay his movement and react to the taker. Others advised him to stand slightly to one side before diving in the opposite direction, potentially in an attempt to influence where the penalty would be placed.

There is no guarantee that every prediction would have proved correct. Penalty takers can change their approach, particularly when they know opponents have studied their previous kicks.

The notes nevertheless demonstrate how seriously England had prepared for the possibility of a shootout.

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Pickford never gets the opportunity

England appeared to be moving closer to extra time after Anthony Gordon gave Thomas Tuchel’s side the lead in the 55th minute.

Argentina gradually increased the pressure, however, and England became increasingly defensive as the match entered its closing stages.

Fernández equalised in the 85th minute before Martínez headed home Messi’s cross two minutes into stoppage time. The late winner sent Argentina directly into the final and ensured Pickford’s penalty plan was never required.

As described by the Associated Press in its account of the semi-final, Messi was involved in both goals as the defending champions overturned England’s advantage during the final minutes.

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The bottle therefore became a painful symbol of England’s elimination.

Tuchel’s staff had prepared for Argentina’s penalty takers in extraordinary detail, but the team could not survive long enough to put that research to use.

A familiar Pickford tactic

Using a bottle covered with penalty information is not a new strategy for Pickford.

The England goalkeeper famously used similar instructions during the Euro 2024 quarter-final shootout against Switzerland. His notes correctly advised him to dive to his left for Manuel Akanji’s attempt, which he saved as England won 5-3 on penalties.

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Pickford has repeatedly embraced the pressure surrounding shootouts and combines statistical preparation with attempts to distract or unsettle opposition takers.

“A key part of Pickford’s routine during penalty shoot-outs is how animated he becomes, demonstratively looking at his water bottle with instructions on, talking to the referee and geeing up the crowd,” UEFA explained after England’s victory over Switzerland.

“I love playing under that pressure, and I thrive off it,” Pickford said at the time.

Since 2018, the goalkeeper has helped transform England’s previously disastrous reputation in penalty shootouts. UEFA noted in 2024 that he had saved five of the 20 shootout penalties he had faced for his country, helping England win three of four shootouts during that period.

Messi avoids Pickford test

The instruction beside Messi’s name was among the most intriguing details on the bottle.

“Fake left – dive right” appears to suggest that England expected the Argentina captain to shape his body one way before sending his penalty in the opposite direction.

Messi had already missed from the spot during Argentina’s dramatic round-of-16 victory over Egypt, when Mostafa Shobeir saved his attempt. That miss would almost certainly have formed part of England’s analysis before the semi-final.

Pickford never received the chance to discover whether his information on Messi was accurate.

Instead, the Argentina captain decided the match in open play, helping create Fernández’s equaliser before delivering the cross for Martínez’s winning header.

Afterwards, Messi and his teammates were able to examine the plan designed to stop them.

England had prepared for every Argentine penalty. Argentina made sure none were needed.