Tim Vickery has made it clear that if Argentina are to win the 2022 FIFA World Cup, then Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez has a ‘big role’ to play.
The South American football expert pointed out how Villa’s vice-captain is seen as a ‘legend’ in his homeland, after the heroics of Copa America.
Before Martinez, Argentina struggled to find a number one, with Vickery pointing out how seven different keepers were used…then up steps Martinez.
Since Villa’s return to the Premier League, whether it’s under Dean Smith, Steven Gerrard or now Unai Emery, he has been his side’s consistent performer.
Nobody in that Villa Park changing room has the confidence that runs through the 30-year-old’s veins and it shows in his performances, both on the domestic and international circuit.
Well, for Vickery, he is going to need every inch of that as the heat in the Argentina kitchen goes up a few levels ahead of their World Cup quarter-final showdown against The Netherlands, as he told ESPN.
“In the 96th minute, as the Argentina fans whistled for the game (v Australia) to end, the keeper had to make his first and only serious save of the evening,” said Vickery. “It was a huge moment. His decision-making not blunted by an hour and a half of inactivity.
“The message is clear. If Argentina and Lionel Messi are to win this World Cup, then Emiliano Martinez has a big role to play; at long last, Argentina have a top-class goalkeeper. Their all-time most-capped keeper is Sergio Romero, who spent a decade warming the bench at a number of European clubs, and who more recently has been a substitute back home at Boca Juniors.
“When Lionel Scaloni took over as coach after the 2018 World Cup, Romero was one of an astonishing seven keepers given a chance in his first eight games. For the record, in order of appearance, they were Geronimo Rulli, Franco Armani, Romero, Agustin Marchesin, Paulo Gazzaniga, Esteban Andrada and Juan Musso.
“As 2021 drew to a close, former Argentina international-turned-wise-pundit Diego Latorre wrote that Martinez “deserves to be named the man of the year in Argentine football. From the first minute, he said ‘I am the goalkeeper,’ and everyone got the message. He’s been transmitting a security and a confidence that we haven’t seen for a long time, and he’s become one of the vital leaders that a dressing room needs.”
VILLA’S BEST PLAYER
The former Arsenal man could argue that he is Villa’s best player and most important figure under Emery.
For the past few years, those in B6 have been trying to chase European football to no avail.
From big-money being splashed, losing star man Jack Grealish, and appointments like Steven Gerrard proving to be a disaster, it just hasn’t worked.
And whilst there is now an air of confidence back now that Emery is in charge, the club still have a long way to go to prove their worth in their European dreams.
But if they are to reach that end goal, then Martinez will play a crucial part in between the sticks, until then, he is dreaming of becoming world champion with Argentina.
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