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JORDAN PICKFORD'S water bottle may have helped England break their World Cup penalty jinx.

TV footage emerged last night appearing to show it contained notes on the neck which may have indicated which way each Colombian was planning to place their spot-kicks.

Jordan Pickford's water bottle appeared to contain notes on the neck which could have told him where Colombia's players were likely to send their penalties
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Jordan Pickford's water bottle appeared to contain notes on the neck which could have told him where Colombia's players were likely to send their penaltiesCredit: ITV
This zoomed-in image shows there was clearly writing of some sort on the neck of Jordan Pickford's water bottle
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This zoomed-in image shows there was clearly writing of some sort on the neck of Jordan Pickford's water bottleCredit: ITV

Pickford, 24, is shown hiding the bottle under a towel ahead of the shootout.

And it is unclear whether he used this drinks container during the game or if it was switched prior to penalties.

Pickford witnessed a similar ruse last summer during the European Under-21s semi-final defeat to Germany when rival goalkeeper Julian Pollersbeck pulled a “cheat sheet” from his sock.

Ex-Man Utd goalkeeper Ben Foster famously used an iPad at Wembley to help him to save two Tottenham penalties during the 2009 Carling Cup victory.

Dramatic moment Jordan Pickford saves long range shot from Mateus Uribe during England against Colombia at World Cup
The England keeper was seeing holding the drinks bottle before the nerve-shredding shootout
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The England keeper was seeing holding the drinks bottle before the nerve-shredding shootoutCredit: ITV
Jordan Pickford was the hero in the shootout, saving Carlos Bacca's penalty
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Jordan Pickford was the hero in the shootout, saving Carlos Bacca's penaltyCredit: ITV
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Notes on a water bottle is a tip used by Maddie Hinch, the goalkeeper of the victorious Olympic womens hockey team at Rio 2016.

She taped a note to her water bottle as she saved FOUR Dutch penalties as Team GB won gold 2-0 in the shootout, after a 3-3 draw in nornal time.

Southgate is understood to have chatted with Danny Kerry, Team GB's hockey coach, and  swapped notes and thoughts on various techniques and details.

Hinch is congratulated by her team-mates after helping them win a first hockey gold
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Hinch is congratulated by her team-mates after her shootout brillianceCredit: AP:Associated Press
The secrets to Maddie Hinch's success appeared to be revealed on her water bottle
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The secrets to Hinch's success appeared to be revealed on her water bottleCredit: Twitter

Pickford revealed after the last-16 victory he had done “my research on them with the staff” and admitted Colombian captain Falcao was the “only one that really didn’t go the way we thought”.

The Everton keeper had even identified Carlos Bacca - whose spot-kick he saved - as the weak link in their line-up.

He said: "I trusted my instinct and went that way with strong hands — I’m happy.

"We looked at his [Bacca] penalties with the penalty grid and they are all over the shop really.

Jordan Pickford celebrates like Ronaldo after England World Cup penalty heroics against Colombia
Jordan Pickford helped send England to a last-eight clash with Sweden
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Jordan Pickford helped send England to a last-eight clash with SwedenCredit: EPA
Eric Dier and Jordan Pickford were the stars of the show in tense penalty shootout against Colombia
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Eric Dier and Jordan Pickford were the stars of the show in tense penalty shootout against ColombiaCredit: Getty Images

"One is top left, one is top right, but I just thought No 4 is a pressure penalty.

"Then with the fifth penalty he’s got to score to stay in it. I thought ‘I’m going right here’ and bang!"

England goalkeeping coach Margetson is a former Wales international keeper, and was appointed by Southgate's predecessor Sam Allardyce.

Goalkeeping coach Martyn Margetson works with England's keepers in St Petersburg
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Goalkeeping coach Martyn Margetson works with England's keepers in St PetersburgCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd

Margetson, 46, had been part of Wales manager Chris Coleman's backroom staff at the 2016 European Championships.

He played one game for Wales, a friendly against Canada in 2005.

Margetson was released from Everton's backroom staff when Allardyce left at the end of last season.

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