‘It’s the middle of the goal!’: Jude Bellingham left fuming with Jordan Pickford over Argentina’s equaliser in World Cup nightmare – as Lionel Messi discovers England star’s penalty ‘cheat sheet’
Jude Bellingham appeared to be annoyed with Jordan Pickford after Argentina equalized as England were eliminated from the World Cup.
The Three Lions lost the championship 2-1 in the semi-final and were punished for their dismal defensive mentality while leading.
After Anthony Gordon put England ahead in the 55th minute, England head coach Thomas Tuchel reverted to a back five in the hope his side could keep the reigning champions out.
But that plan backfired as Enzo Fernandez’s late long-range strike and Lautaro Martinez’s stoppage-time header gave Argentina the winners for Sunday’s showdown with Spain.
Fernandez’s goal came in the 85th minute and many doubted whether Pickford could save the shot.
Judging by Bellingham’s reaction, he felt his teammate needed to do better.
Jude Bellingham appeared annoyed with Jordan Pickford over Argentina’s equalizer
Enzo Fernandez (left) and Bellingham, wearing number ten, watch the former pass Pickford
Watching the replay of the goal on the screen at Atlanta Stadium, Bellingham was seen saying to himself: ‘Right in the middle of the goal!’
The midfielder’s reaction was echoed by former England right-back Gary Neville, who said: Continue the Football World Cup Watch Party: ‘He didn’t go to the corner, he needs to save this. I have to save him. It’s over now.”
While Argentina were celebrating wildly at the end of the match, they also discovered Pickford’s penalty ‘cheat sheet’ water bottle.
England’s No.1 left his bottle alone as he walked off the pitch and Lionel Messi can be seen reading Pickford’s notes in the video.
Substitute Nico Gonzalez, shown to them by Argentina’s backroom staff, was the first to read it before Messi and then Fernandez.
Pickford’s notes on Messi include detailed notes on the ‘fake’ dive to the left before moving to his ‘right’; something that Marco Senesi, who has played in the Premier League for the last four seasons, has translated to him.
Fernandez can also be shown smiling wryly as he reads Pickford’s instructions for the penalty kick, which state that the goalkeeper must ‘stand in the centre’.
Lionel Messi (right) and his Argentine team-mates discovered Pickford’s penalty tricks
England No 1’s water bottle had instructions for Argentina’s shots on the back
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