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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
Sport
Flo Clifford

What did Pickford’s penalty cheat sheet say – and could Spain use it to their advantage in the World Cup final?

World Cup Spain Enzo Fernandez Jordan Pickford Lionel Messi Argentina
  • Argentina secured a 2-1 victory over England in their World Cup semi-final, with Lautaro Martinez scoring the decisive goal in injury time after Enzo Fernandez cancelled out Anthony Gordon's opener.
  • Following the match, Argentina players discovered England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford's discarded water bottle, which contained detailed notes outlining his strategy for a potential penalty shootout against their squad.
  • The notes specified Pickford's planned reactions for individual players, including instructions like “fake left - dive right” for Lionel Messi and “stand central” for Enzo Fernandez.
  • Several Argentina players, including Messi, Fernandez, Nicolas Gonzalez, and Marcos Senesi, were observed reading the penalty instructions and appeared visibly amused by the detailed preparations.
  • The image of the cheat sheet was circulated on social media, and could potentially offer valuable insights to Spain, who are set to face Argentina in Sunday’s World Cup final.

IN FULL

Messi and Argentina react after finding Pickford’s World Cup penalty cheat sheet

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