Gary Lineker Says Jordan Pickford Should Stop Using Penalty Cheat Sheet at Euro 2024
English football legend Gary Lineker has stated that Jordan Pickford should stop using the ‘cheat sheet’ on his water bottle for penalty saves. The Everton goalkeeper once again became a hero for England with his performance in the Euro 2024 quarter-final against Switzerland.
Pickford’s Penalty Expertise
Pickford is known as a specialist in saving penalties for the England national team. He played a crucial role in England’s victory against Colombia in the 2018 World Cup, and in 2019, he led his team to victory by making a crucial save and scoring a penalty against Switzerland in the UEFA Nations League. In the Euro 2020 final against Italy, Pickford saved two penalties, and in this summer’s European Championship, he caught attention by saving Manuel Akanji’s penalty in the match against Switzerland.
Lineker’s Criticism
The England national team meticulously prepares for penalty shootouts, and Pickford sticks penalty advice notes on his water bottle. The bottle, which guided Pickford to “jump left” for Akanji’s penalty, has become a known tactic. Lineker pointed out that opponents are now aware of this strategy, saying, “A player is going to look at that bottle. If you’re listening, do it differently, write it on a different sheet or stick it on the post!”
Facing the Netherlands in the Semi-Final
England will face the Netherlands in the Euro 2024 semi-final in Dortmund on Wednesday. Gareth Southgate’s team hopes to avoid more penalty drama in this crucial match.
Oh sure, because having a cheat sheet on your water bottle is the most innovative strategy ever, right? I mean, who needs actual skill and practice when you can just write down some notes and call it a day? Maybe next they’ll just hand out pamphlets at the goalposts for the players. ‘Here’s how to kick a ball, folks!’ Bravo Pickford, I can’t wait to see what other groundbreaking tactics you’ll unveil. Perhaps post-it notes with motivational quotes?
Wow, Lineker really hit the nail on the head with this one! It’s not like goalkeepers have been doing this forever or anything. But hey, let’s just keep using that bottle and make it a family heirloom! Can’t wait for future generations to look at it and say, ‘This is how we won Euro 2024!’ What a legacy! And while we’re at it, why not just paint the entire strategy on his jersey? That way everyone knows what he’s up to!
Oh yes, let’s all point fingers at Pickford’s water bottle instead of acknowledging his talent. Because clearly it’s not him saving those penalties but rather an inanimate object guiding him through each match! Lineker should maybe focus more on his own career rather than being Mr. Penalty Police. Next thing we know he’ll be telling us how many times we can blink before taking a penalty kick! What’s next? A seminar on how to breathe?
I mean really? A cheat sheet? Isn’t that like bringing a calculator to an exam when you’re supposed to use your brain? Maybe we should just have all players tattoo their strategies onto their foreheads too so everyone can get in on the game plan! Bravo Pickford for being so original with your methods; I’m sure no one else has ever thought of writing things down before! Next up: using Google for match strategies!