Jordan Pickford’s water bottle explained: The penalty plan Messi and Argentina discovered after beating England
England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford was prepared for a shootout with Argentina, but when the players found his notes, it was already too late.
A funny moment after Argentina’s dramatic World Cup semifinal victory over England quickly went viral when Lionel Messi and several teammates were seen inspecting Jordan Pickford’s water bottle.
The England goalkeeper’s bottle contained notes prepared for a possible penalty shootout, with information on where Argentina’s players were likely to place their penalties and how Pickford should respond.
The only problem for England is that the shootout never came. Argentina scored twice late to complete a 2-1 comeback victory and book a place in the World Cup final against Spain, leaving Pickford’s preparation unused.
What was written on Jordan Pickford’s water bottle?
Pickford had prepared a penalty reference guide, a common practice among top goalkeepers before major knockout matches.
The notes reportedly included instructions for dealing with individual Argentina penalty takers, including where players were likely to shoot and how Pickford should react. Images circulating after the match showed information attached to the bottle covering Argentina players and their penalty tendencies.
The bottle was designed as a quick reference tool during a shootout, allowing Pickford to glance down before penalties rather than relying purely on memory.
Why were Messi and Argentina laughing?
After the final whistle, Argentina players came across the bottle while celebrating their semifinal victory. Messi, along with teammates including Enzo Fernández and Nicolás González, looked at the information and appeared amused by what they found. The reaction quickly spread online because of the contrast. England had spent time preparing for Argentina’s penalty takers, only for Argentina to win before penalties were needed.
Is studying penalty takers common in soccer?
Yes. Goalkeepers routinely prepare detailed penalty information before major matches. At the highest level, teams analyze:
- previous penalties taken by opponents
- preferred shooting direction
- body position before striking
- pressure situations
- whether players change their habits in important moments
The challenge is that penalty takers are also aware they are being studied. A player who knows a goalkeeper has researched their tendencies may intentionally change their approach. The whole psychological battle is why penalty shootouts aren’t just about preparation, but reaction too.
Did Jordan Pickford’s plan work?
We will never know. Pickford’s preparation would only have mattered if Argentina and England were level after extra time. Instead, Argentina avoided a shootout completely after their late comeback.
England’s goalkeeper still produced important saves during the semifinal, but his penalty notes remained unused on the night.
England had prepared for one of soccer’s most stressful scenarios - a World Cup semifinal penalty shootout against Lionel Messi’s Argentina. But after losing in open play, their opponent discovered the preparation afterward. For Messi and Argentina, it was a rare glimpse into the tactical chess match that takes place behind the scenes.
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