Who knows how large a role Julian Pollersbeck’s cheat sheet played in Germany’s shootout victory but the intent did not go unnoticed on social media.
As usual, England fell victim to heartbreak on penalties to Germany in a semi-final thanks to Pollersbeck’s saves against both Tammy Abraham and Nathan Redmond.
However the 22-year-old could not remember the instructions he received from his goalkeeping coach in the build-up to the European U21 Championship last four clash on Tuesday night.
Luckily, he’d managed to scribble down the likely direction that the English penalty-takers would aim when the pressure was on.
For all we know, the paper that was stuffed in his sock simply read “Dive to your right every time” because that’s exactly what Pollersbeck did, foiling Abraham and Redmond from 12 yards.
More than a handful of viewers noticed the cheat sheet.
Germany #U21EURO hero Julian Pollersbeck checking over his notes before making the winning save against England! 👀🇩🇪 #ENGGER pic.twitter.com/BDSPboBzP7
— Mia San Mia (@MiaSanMiaDFB) June 27, 2017
Noticed the German keeper checking pens notes on a piece of paper that was tucked into his sock during the shoot out? lol#ENGGER #U21Euros
— Rooh (Legacy Fan) (@wanderingrooh) June 27, 2017
Keeper is looking at notes stuffed into his sock during penalties. #EngGer
— Nick “Bozodoc” Watanabe (@watanabe2k) June 27, 2017
Keeper bringing notes into a penalty shoot out but if I did that in an exam id get disqualified #U21EURO #EngGer
— jOE. (@joedoubIeu) June 27, 2017
Notes down your sock!! Really! Cmon England #ENGGER
— L O U C O G G L E S (@LouiseSampson) June 27, 2017
Is he allowed them notes in his sock #ENGGER
— Elliott Waterfield (@Ell10ttW) June 27, 2017
https://twitter.com/AManHasAKane/status/879771763378339840
Germany keeper with penalty notes down his socks! #ENGGER
— Ross (@rosshawkes) June 27, 2017
It’s not the first time that a goalkeeper has consulted notes before a shootout.
Edwin van der Sar famously double-checked the strategy prior to saving Nicolas Anelka’s spot-kick in the 2007/08 Champions League final.
