Aston Villa will now speak to Emiliano Martinez following the World Cup final to discuss his availability against Liverpool. The Argentina ace will take on France in the final this Sunday.
That is according to the Daily Mail, which reports new Villans boss Unai Emery is hopeful of having the 30-year-old available. But the Birmingham club return to Premier League action just eight days after the World Cup ends. They host the Reds at Villa Park on December 26.
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So, Emery will contact Martinez after the final of Qatar 2022 to assess his mindset to play on Boxing Day. The goalkeeper is set to start in the biggest game of his career so far as La Albiceleste eye a third World Cup title. Argentina have not won the FIFA crown since 1986.
Will Aston Villa have Emiliano Martinez available to face Liverpool?
Aston Villa will decide if they will have Martinez available to face Liverpool after Emery has spoken with Martinez. The Villans want to determine if he will have a clear enough mind to focus on their festive fixture. Especially with such a tight turnaround after he faces France.
The World Cup final is a game that, for better or worse, the £17m former Arsenal star will forever remember. But Martinez does have prior experience of playing at high levels after winning the 2021 Copa America. He started six of their seven fixtures, including the final.
Martinez shut Brazil out in the final to win 1-0 as Argentina lifted their first Copa America title since 1993. Now, he could help La Albiceleste add to their World Cup titles from 1978 as the hosts and at Mexico 1986. So, it can also be their first title outside of the Americas.
Emiliano Martinez holds an integral role in Argentina’s World Cup squad
Lionel Scaloni has entrusted Martinez with guarding Argentina’s net in all five of their ties at Qatar 2022 so far. He has also kept clean sheets against Mexico, Poland and Croatia and saved two penalties in La Albiceleste’s quarter-final shootout win against the Netherlands.
Emery now hopes Martinez ends the World Cup on a high by beating France so Aston Villa have the Argentina ace available to face Liverpool. The 25-cap stopper has started all 15 of the Villans’ Premier League fixtures this season. He has also kept four clean sheets so far.
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