Jordan Pickford sends Argentina penalty message as England brace for World Cup shootout | OneFootball

Three Lions shotstopper has come up with heroics in high-profile shootouts before

Jordan Pickford insists England are fully prepared for the prospect of a penalty shootout if their World Cup semi-final with Argentina goes the distance.

England have won three knockout matches at the 2026 World Cup, beating DR Congo, Mexico and Norway, but are yet to contest a penalty shootout.

Head coach Thomas Tuchel and his coaching staff had been preparing for the tournament on the assumption that at least one knockout match would head to penalties if they were to go all the way, purely on the basis of probability.

England’s last two World Cup penalty shootouts came against Colombia in 2018 (victory) and Portugal in 2006 (defeat).

Before those, the most recent was the 1998 round of 16 against Wednesday’s semi-final opponents Argentina, when David Beckham was sent off and England exited after a shootout in Saint-Etienne.

Argentina have already been taken to extra time twice, by Cape Verde and Switzerland, but are also yet to embark on a shootout at this World Cup.

“I think it’s just [important to] solely focus on us as England now and us being at our best to beat another top nation,” Pickford said in England’s training base of Kansas City on Monday.

Confident: Jordan Pickford

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“It’s us against them to get a place in the final, and it’s a game of football — [whether it is] 90 minutes, 120, or penalties.

“We’re ready for anything, and it’s us against them and it’s about who comes out on top. We’re fully prepared for that.”

Pickford’s opposite number between the sticks at Atlanta Stadium will be a familiar foe from the Premier League: Aston Villa goalkeeper Emi Martinez.

Speaking about the eccentric shot-stopper, Pickford said: “What a career, from going to Arsenal. I'll never forget playing against him when he went on loan to Wolves, when I was at Preston North End. For me, the pathway he went on, he had to wait to get his chance for Argentina and then he took it.

“His antics are his antics, but as a goalkeeper he's a top keeper, and that's what top keepers do.

“Whether he has his antics or I have my antics, it's about putting the gloves on and putting that performance in. He's done that for Aston Villa, he's done it for Argentina, and I've got to give credit to him as a goalkeeper.”