Argentina are in the semi-finals after defeating Ecuador on penalties in the quarter-finals of the Copa América.
Here are our takeaways from the Houston matchup.
The impenetrable object
Emiliano Martínez may be the best penalty shootout goalkeeper we’ve ever seen at this level of football.
The Aston Villa player was once again his team’s trump card in the penalty shootout on Thursday night, making two consecutive saves to win the game for the world champions.
Emiliano Dibu Martínez, Argentina’s hero once again.
◉ 24 penalties in total with the national team.
◉ 12 goals conceded, exactly 50% percentage.
◉ 9 saved, 2 off target, 1 hitting wood.
Legendary performance again tonight. pic.twitter.com/ZRiR0HsBqq
—Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) July 5, 2024
The Argentine goalkeeper not only made great saves but also did his usual antics in the process, dancing in front of the crowd with every pass save.
It is these antics that could be the legacy left by the man they call Dibu, but when the moment is greatest, Martínez owns his goal.
They gave themselves the chance
For a moment it looked like it would be Ecuador’s night. Just minutes after the dramatic injury-time equalizer, Leo Messi saw his panenka attempt ricochet off the post and fall behind the goal.
Even so, Ecuadorian collectors were unable to find a way to take advantage of the momentum and overcome the barrier of the Argentine network.
Finding a way out of a difficult Group B was already an achievement for this team, and they can leave the tournament with their heads held high after giving the champions a run for their money.
But with that feeling set aside, they may always feel like they missed a golden opportunity to make history.
Quiet but not necessary
It’s no secret that Lionel Messi is relatively calm for Argentina in this summer’s tournament, but that doesn’t mean he isn’t contributing.
With just one assist and no goals scored in the three games played so far, Messi hasn’t been the catalyst for his team’s victories – but does that really matter?
It’s simply not Lionel Messi’s tournament so far. He arrived with discomfort and returned to playing this game with discomfort.
He took Argentina by the hand in the last 2 tournaments and now his team takes him by the hand, that’s the beauty of this sport. pic.twitter.com/nKEkbhN0wJ
— 𝐀𝐅𝐂 𝐀𝐉𝐀𝐗 (@TheEuropeanLad) July 5, 2024
Players like Lautaro Martínez and Emiliano Martínez stepped up with big goals and saves, leaving a potentially injured Messi to play a different role in his team than we are used to seeing.
However, no one will sleep with the great man. He will certainly remind us why he is one of the greatest of all time before the tournament ends.
