Goalkeepers from each team played a key role in their country’s qualification for the Qatar 2022 deciding round. Both saved penalties. However, they have different ways to complete this challenge.
Argentina and Croatia meet in the semi-finals of Qatar 2022. Lionel Scaloni’s team against the king of overtime. Two teams with different styles compete this Tuesday at 4:00 p.m. (in Chile). Its nuances start from the beginning of the team: the portico. On the one hand, Dominik Livakovic, one of the revelations of the World Cup, bursts in. Opposite, Emiliano Martínez, extroverted goalkeeper of the Albiceleste, adored since the Copa América 2021.
Both have been starters throughout the World Cup. The two also played a key role in a usually complicated instance under the three tubes: the penalty shootout. The Croatian against Japan and Brazil. It’s no mystery that his team, since Russia 2018, have earned a reputation as specialists in the field. El Dibu saved two from the Netherlands as it looked like the Europeans were coming into the event better psychologically, having leveled the score after trailing 2-0.
Everyone handles these kinds of situations differently. Livakovic waits for the kicker, but does not move from the line. The shot that saved Rodrygo was after staying in position without saying anything. Martínez applies the mental game, yells at the rival, distracts him. He also moves a lot.
sobriety vs provocation
Dominik Livakovic saw his second planetary appointment, but in the previous one he had no minutes. Now he is the protagonist. But winning the job was not easy for him. He was called up for the first time in 2016, but his debut took place at the beginning of 2017, against Chile, just that, in the China Cup. Since then, he has already worn his country’s jacket 38 other times.
Along the way, a lot of things happened. After managing to move up and start in Croatia, the Dinamo Zagreb goalkeeper has been going through tough times. In 2019, he became his country’s first goalkeeper, but in the qualifiers he lost the position at one point. First of a double meeting against Slovakia and Slovenia. Then he returned to the field, but in the following days he again appeared on the bench.
At that time, he received advice from Luka Modric, the Croatian captain. In a dialogue that was seen in Capitanes, a Netflix series, the Real Madrid midfielder told him that: “I wouldn’t tell you that if you didn’t worry me, but I see you’re not progressing in the national team. Maybe it’s the pressure you have? You radiate uncertainty and it infects the team.”
The dialogue starts like that, so the midfielder continues by telling him about his concerns. “Why can’t you be wrong? We all do. Your problem is that you are afraid of making a mistake”, after which the guard answers: “I did not come here out of fear”.
“It only makes things worse. Look, you’re a great keeper, you know that?” replies the captain. A dialogue that is rebroadcast today. In the home stretch of the qualifiers, the Dinamo Zagreb player regained his position and in Qatar 2022 he positioned himself as one of the best in the tournament in his position.
On the other hand, Emiliano Martínez tends to be confident. “Look, I’m eating you”, is the loud phrase with which the Argentine goalkeeper sought to distract Colombia’s Copa América kickers. It worked for him, no doubt. It has risen, through its performance against coffee growers and now against the Netherlands, as a specialist in the field. However, he maintains that it is not something he is up to.
“We practiced on penalties and I didn’t catch any. It’s luck. I stopped the first two and lowered their goalkeeper morally, ”he said after the victory against the tulips. Beyond his words, the jumps and words he emits as the thrower approaches are part of the game. Plus, add to that his post-stop celebrations. Still not sure if he will win or not, Martínez danced after his retakes.
Targeted as a provocateur, before the shootout, and while the result was still 2-0 for his team, he argued with Luuk de Jong. As he came out to cut off a cross, he collected the ball from the striker and they had an exchange of words when he got up. Martínez’s controversial style generates supporters and detractors. There are those who say that these are common situations on the playing field. Others assure that theirs exceeds a limit.
Together with Dominik Livakovic, he will face another colleague. Both, yes, were effective in Qatar. Beyond the fact that they conceded goals, their performances allowed their countries to appear among the first four of the planetary competition.
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Source: Latercera
I am Sandra Jackson, a journalist and content creator with extensive experience in the news industry. I have been working in the news media for over five years. During this time, I have worked as an author and editor at various outlets producing high-quality content that attracts readers from different demographics.
