Jordan Pickford arrived at England's World Cup semi-final against Argentina with a detailed plan for any penalty shootout — but he never got to use it.

England were eliminated in the cruellest fashion, conceding twice late on as Argentina pulled clear to end any hope of extra time. Manager Thomas Tuchel's decision to sit deep and absorb pressure has since drawn fierce scrutiny, with England appearing to bank on survival and a shootout rather than pressing for a winner.

What Pickford's bottle said

After the final whistle, Argentina's players stumbled upon a telling piece of evidence on the pitch: Pickford's water bottle, complete with a handwritten penalty guide for each of Argentina's likely takers.

Lionel Messi — who had already missed two penalties at this tournament — was listed first, with the instruction to "fake left, dive right." For Enzo Fernandez, the Chelsea midfielder who had equalised earlier in the match, the note advised Pickford to "stand central."

Most names came with a clear directional instruction, though Thiago Almada's entry stood apart — Pickford was told simply to "feel on the day," suggesting even the most thorough preparation has its limits.

A shootout that never came

Pickford has built a formidable reputation in shootouts during his England career, making crucial saves at previous major tournaments. His water bottle preparation is a continuation of that meticulous approach.

The note, however, proved academic. Lautaro Martinez's header from Messi's precise late cross settled the tie before England could force the additional period they appeared to crave.

In an ironic twist, Messi and several Argentina teammates were photographed examining the bottle after the final whistle — perhaps filing away the intel ahead of their World Cup final against Spain on Sunday.

For Pickford and England, the cheat sheet remains unused — unless the two nations cross paths again in the knockout rounds four years from now.