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Argentina players discover Jordan Pickford's penalty notes after World Cup semi-final victory
via Punch Nigeria2 min read
England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford's detailed penalty notes for Argentina players were discovered by Lionel Messi and his teammates after their 2-1 victory in the World Cup semi-final. Pickford had prepared instructions for each Argentine player, including faking dives or delaying movement, in anticipation of a penalty shootout that ultimately did not occur. For instance, his notes for Messi suggested diving one way after initially feigning to go the other, while for Enzo Fernandez, he expected a shot down the middle. Tottenham defender Marcos Senesi was seen explaining the English notes to Messi. The notes were taped to Pickford's water bottle and found as Argentina celebrated their comeback win. The image of the bottle was reportedly shared on Instagram by Argentina fitness coach Luis Martin and widely circulated by journalist Fabrizio Romano. While goalkeepers routinely study penalty takers, Pickford's preparations were not utilized as Argentina secured their win in normal time. The leaked notes could potentially aid Spain's goalkeeper Unai Simon in the upcoming final against Argentina, as Argentina's penalty routines are now public.
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