​Lionel Messi looked puzzled after discovering what England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford had planned for a potential penalty shootout ahead of Argentina’s FIFA World Cup semifinal victory.On Wednesday, in a heated game in Atlanta, Argentina rallied to secure a dramatic late 2-1 win against England. The Three Lions grabbed the lead through Anthony Gordon, but their defensive approach backfired as Enzo Fernández leveled from range before Lautaro Martínez sealed Argentina’s passage.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementIn the World Cup final, La Albiceleste will face Spain with Messi and company pursuing consecutive titles – an accomplishment not seen since Brazil in 1958 and 1962. Argentina wrapped things up in regulation time, which proved unfortunate for Pickford as he had prepared a strategy, as per The Mirror US.Who is the referee for the Spain vs France FIFA World Cup semifinal?-Credit:X @AlbicelesteTalkAfter the July 15 defeat to Argentina, England’s squad collapsed to the ground in anguish. As the team acknowledged the away fans before retreating to the locker room, Pickford abandoned his water bottle, which, like those of numerous modern-day keepers, contained notes for possible penalty kicks.While celebrating on the field in Atlanta, Argentina’s squad stumbled upon Pickford’s bottle and started examining it. Several of their players, including Messi, studied the bottle to determine where Pickford anticipated they would aim a penalty if the match had reached a shootout.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementPickford had invested considerable time analyzing each opponent’s tendencies, his sheet containing detailed instructions on how to approach every outfield player in Argentina’s squad. For the majority of players, Pickford noted left or right – while others featured directions to feign one way before diving the other, or to hold his position centrally.The Argentine players studied the list with puzzled expressions. Messi consulted a member of the coaching staff to decipher Pickford’s intentions, as the Everton goalkeeper had noted “fake left – dive right” for the 39-year-old.To listen to the latest episode of ‘All Out Soccer’ – CLICK HEREUltimately, Pickford’s penalty sheet proved unnecessary as Argentina relied on a late comeback to claim victory at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Gordon handed England the lead in the 55th minute, and head coach Thomas Tuchel made the surprising call to sit back and protect the advantage through to the final whistle.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementEngland carried their lead into the closing 10 minutes and held firm for half an hour. However, Argentina, as they have demonstrated on multiple occasions at this World Cup, produced some late-game magic to turn things around.Fernández unleashed a long-range effort to draw the world champions level, and then, with an exhausted England retreating further and further, Argentina snatched the winner as Martínez headed home Messi’s floated cross after the Inter stri