ENGLAND hero Jordan Pickford was forced to change his penalty shootout routine at the last minute against Switzerland.
And despite him having to think quick on his feet Pickford made the only penalty save needed as the Three Lions sunk Switzerland 5-3 on spot-kicks following a 1-1 draw.
Fans have praised Pickford's shootout antics as a key moment in helping England go through to the semi-finals.
But little did they know the referee Daniele Orsato prevented him from following his "usual process".
Pickford told ITV: "Firstly, the referee didn't let me do my usual process so I had to adapt tonight, I like to give the lads a ball for a bit of calm and focus.
"I could only do it on the first one and luckily I saved it.
"I trust my process and what I do and I'll save one but massive respect to the lads they stepped up to score all five the way they did - huge credit."
This explains why there was so much more to Pickford's dive to keep out Manuel Akanji's ball.
As Akanji prepared to take the first penalty of the shootout, Pickford walked away from his goal line to grab his water bottle.
After slowly making his way back - while Akanji was stood waiting - the referee had a word with the keeper.
Referee Daniele Orsato warned he would caution the Everton stopper if he did not return to his goal-line ahead of each Swiss spot-kick.
And Pickford's usual process could well have worked - because Akanji's mediocre attempt was the worst shootout kick.
He said: "The referee stopped me doing what I normally do but I still managed to save one and give the lads the opportunity.
"He was going to book me if I wasn’t going back on my line. Part of playing the game a little bit.”
Images emerged showing Pickford holding a water bottle with data on where and how the Swiss players take their spot-kicks.
Tellingly, one of the instructions was "Akanji, dive left" which the 30-year-old did to deny the Swiss the first penalty.
Pickford could have saved the next one too, had he listened to his own research.
For Fabian Schar's kick, he faked to dive left and then went right, the complete OPPOSITE of the instruction on his bottle.
But it did not matter and England will now play Holland in the semi-final, which will be held in Dortmund on Wednesday.
