Jordan Pickford's penalty-saving secret revealed in England's World Cup 2018 win
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Jordan Pickford was England’s penalty hero last night - and it was partly thanks to a switch in his drinks bottle.
Pickford became only the second goalkeeper to save a penalty for England in a World Cup shootout.
And the 24-year-old’s incredible one-handed stop to deny Carlos Bacca put the Three Lions on their way to the quarter-finals before Eric Dier’s decisive goal.
Pickford’s heroics were inspired by a subtle change that not many would have noticed, however.
(Image: Getty Images Europe)
Mirror Football understands that when Gareth Southgate was delegating the order of his penalty takers, Pickford was handed a new drinks bottle by goalkeeper coach Martyn Margetson.
Scrawled on it was the details of Colombia’s players and their preferred sides, so that the Everton No.1 could attempt to guess which way to dive.
It certainly paid off and England are now looking forward to Saturday’s showdown with Sweden in Samara.
(Image: Getty)
Speaking after England’s historic shootout win at the Spartak Arena, Pickford said: “I might be young but I've got good mental strength and experience and I used that.
"It's a great night to win a penalty shootout. Ideally we don't want to be going to a penalty shootout but we are delighted for the fans and the whole country.
"It gives us belief to go into the Sweden game and we will get straight back to business."