‘Lionel Messi, fake LEFT, dive RIGHT’: How Jordan Pickford would’ve dived had England made it to a penalty shootout vs Argentina

England could not quite make it to extra time in their World Cup semi-final against Argentina, conceding twice late on to fall short in the most disappointing way.

The inquest is well underway as to why Thomas Tuchel opted to instruct his team to sit deep and attempt to soak up wave after wave of Argentina pressure.

After Enzo Fernandez’s equaliser, it seemed England hoped simply to survive until full-time, and then perhaps make it to a penalty shootout, given the plethora of defenders on the pitch.

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Pickford’s water bottle picture emerges

If England had made it to penalties, they would, as expected, have been fully prepared.

Goalkeeper Jordan Pickford has experienced plenty of shootout success at major tournaments during his Three Lions career.

And he was, it seems, ready for another one had Lautaro Martinez not met Lionel Messi’s inch-perfect cross in added time.

A picture of Pickford’s water bottle emerged on social media after Argentina’s players spotted it on the pitch following the full-time whistle.

Attached to the water bottle was an instruction on how and where to dive for each of Argentina’s potential penalty takers.

Messi, who has missed two penalties at this World Cup, was the first name on the list, with the instruction “fake left – dive right”.

For Chelsea midfielder Fernandez, Pickford’s note simply read: “stand central”.

While for most of the penalty takers Pickford was given a clear direction to dive, Thiago Almada’s name came with the instruction to “feel on the day”.

Messi and a couple of his team-mates were seen looking at the bottle, perhaps trying to garner some insight ahead of a potential shootout against Spain in Sunday’s World Cup final.

For England and Pickford, meanwhile, the preparation proved fruitless – unless, of course, they meet La Albiceleste in the knockout stages again four years from now…