What Martinez Said
In the 2024 Copa quarterfinals, Martinez showcased his brilliance by saving two critical shots, leading Argentina to a 4-2 victory in the penalty shootout. Following the match, the 31-year-old recounted his motivational speech before kickoff: "I told the team that I wasn't ready to go home. Despite being world and American champions, we deserved to move forward. We've been together with our supporters for 35 days, and it's been an exhilarating experience."
Emi Martinez saved two penalties to rescue Lionel Messi's blushes as Argentina advanced to the Copa America semifinal.
Argentina have yet to hit their stride in the Copa America. La Albiceleste have looked disjointed at times, a far cry from their World Cup-winning form. However, on Thursday evening, another underwhelming performance proved sufficient as the reigning champions defeated Ecuador 4-2 on penalties after a 1-1 draw in regulation to secure a semifinal berth.
Lionel Messi struggled throughout the match, failing to make a significant impact and missing another penalty. Nevertheless, his teammates stepped up, with Emi Martinez saving two crucial shots to propel Argentina forward.
La Albiceleste took the lead after 35 minutes when Lisandro Martinez headed home at the far post from a well-executed corner routine. Enzo Fernandez had a chance to double the lead before halftime but narrowly missed.
Argentina appeared poised to win in regulation, but Kevin Rodriguez's glancing header in second-half stoppage time forced the match to penalties.
Despite Messi missing Argentina's first penalty, Martinez remained resolute, and the rest of La Albiceleste converted their attempts to secure a fifth-straight semifinal appearance.
Goalkeeper & Defense
Emi Martinez (10/10): Made several smart stops in the first half and saved two penalties in another heroic shootout performance.
Nahuel Molina (7/10): He won nearly all his tackles, made crucial recoveries, and kept the dangerous Kendry Paez quiet.
Lisandro Martinez (8/10): Scored his first national team goal from close range. Defensively solid throughout the match.
Cristian Romero (7/10): Distributed the ball well, won his duels, and drew important free kicks to help close out the game.
Nico Tagliafico (6/10): Completed all but one of his passes, with most threats from Ecuador coming from the opposite wing.
Midfield
Rodrigo De Paul (6/10): Effective defensively in an unfamiliar right-sided role but gave away a penalty with a silly handball.
Alexis Mac Allister (8/10): Classy and composed in midfield, assisting the opening goal. Understated yet highly effective performance.
Enzo Fernandez (5/10): He missed several good chances in the first half, was careless in possession, and struggled defensively.
Nico Gonzalez (6/10): Worked hard on the left, covering a lot of ground, but offered little offensively.
Attack
Lionel Messi (6/10): Struggled early after missing the last game due to injury. Provided some clever passes but has yet to find his best form in the tournament.
Lautaro Martinez (5/10): Had limited opportunities in the first half and was substituted after a frustrating hour.
Subs & Manager
Julian Alvarez (5/10): Had minimal involvement after coming on but scored a penalty in the shootout.
Giovani Lo Celso (N/A): Had no time to make an impact.
Nicolas Otamendi (8/10): Lost his man on Ecuador's equalizer but scored the decisive penalty.
Gonzalo Montiel (N/A): Had no time to make an impact.
Lionel Scaloni (7/10): Fielded a strong team but saw another lackluster performance. Relied on penalty heroics to progress, but the dream continues.
