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Argentina’s players might have discovered some secrets in their victory over England that could be useful in the future.
Following Argentina’s 2-1 semi-final victory at the 2026 FIFA World Cup on Wednesday, Lionel Messi and his Argentine teammates Nico González and Enzo Fernández gathered around a bottle of water. They read the back as if it had a secret recipe.
He may well have done so, as it seemed to show a strategy of how England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford would have approached each Argentine player if the match had ended in a penalty shootout.
For Messi, it said “False left, dive to the right.” For defender Nahuel Montiel, he said: “Dive to the left.” What would Pickford do if Leandro Paredes took his place? “Stand to the left, dive to the right,” according to the water bottle.
Pickford would have been more careful to keep his water bottle and his secrets close to his chest if the game had gone to a penalty shootout. So don’t blame Argentina for being curious once Pickford left his trash behind. In fact, it might help them move forward.
While each goalkeeper certainly prepares for the shootout differently (watching different film, gathering different information), they may think the same way. Argentina’s players saw that thought.
The information could help them prepare for a possible penalty shootout against Spain and goalkeeper Unai Simón. It could also result in the opposite: Argentine players meddle and doubt your approach because the goalkeeper knows their tendencies.
In the end, the penalty shootout is a game of strategy and mentality. The coach chooses who takes the spot and the penalty taker must have the confidence to do so. The fact that this information is available only adds to that intrigue, that suspense, as certain players will weigh its importance differently.
