The ends of a team are usually two key places for coaches.
Because on one hand the goalkeepers guard the last defensive bastion and, on the other, the scoring center forwards require maximum effectiveness to achieve results.
And for the
Argentine National Team
, among many other benefits, that equation works perfectly with
Emiliano Dibu Martínez
and
Lautaro Martínez
, despite the
16-game
drought that he has been dragging with the albiceleste shirt.
And in a year where the
Olympic Games
seem to cloud several of the world champions, El Toro also offered to be part of
Paris 2024
to seek the third...
gold medal
.
Lautaro Martínez, on the chance that Mascherano calls him to the Olympic Games: "Obviously if you want to count on me, I WILL ALWAYS BE AVAILABLE. I work to put on this shirt, I give my best in my club to be in this place. Afterwards, it doesn't depend of us. WE WILL… pic.twitter.com/W1KzMVysAV
— TyC Sports (@TyCSports) March 25, 2024
"If Mascherano wants to count on me, I will always be available. I work to put on this shirt, I give my best at the club to be in this place. Since I was little I dreamed of entering the facility, of listening to the Anthem, I confirm that I am available.
It doesn't depend of us, but we will exert force if the call comes
," explained the Toro from Bahia.
Martínez joined a list that already included
Nicolás Tagliafico
,
Rodrigo De Paul
,
Nicolás Otamendi
,
Dibu Martínez
,
Alexis Mac Allister
and
Cristian Romero
, who publicly expressed their interest in being part.
What decision will coach Javier Mascherano make?
.
Beyond his moment, no one doubts Martínez's ability and what his contribution would mean in an Olympic competition.
All this, despite the fact that he has the fourth negative scoring streak of a footballer in the Argentine National Team, with
772 minutes without scoring
.
He has not converted since September 23, 2022, prior to the World Cup in Qatar, when he scored against Honduras.
On that list of droughts, he is behind
Diego Armando Maradona
(1190 minutes between 1990 and 1994),
Mario Alberto Kempes
(900 minutes between 1978 and 1982);
and
Ángel Di María
(875 minutes, between 2013 and 2014).
This streak caused him to receive criticism, not only on social networks, but from important figures in the football world such as the Italian Alessandro Costacurta, who punished him for his missed penalty in the round of 16 of the Champions League against Atlético de Madrid.
"Sometimes one controls oneself when speaking. Those comments are bad. Beyond the fact that they are opinions, they have to be fair opinions. He said that he was not in important games. That is not true. Scoring a goal in a semifinal against Milan "It was one of the most important games in the history of the two clubs. Beyond the goal, the game that Inter played, the game that I played... I invite you to watch it," he replied.
Lautaro Martínez in TyC Sports, about Alessandro Costacurta's comment: "I think he said that I was not in important games and THAT IS NOT TRUE. I scored a goal in the semi against Milan and I think it was one of the most important games of the history of the two clubs. LO… pic.twitter.com/vq2Wc3iDlT
— TyC Sports (@TyCSports) March 25, 2024
"I let others talk and I try to do my job. The same thing always happens. After scoring three goals and you're the best. I had to say it during the time in Racing when there was a lot of talk about me. I always tried to lower that. When I didn't you convert, they hit you more," he concluded,
After the shock that Lionel Scaloni's words meant after the victory at the Maracaná stadium against Brazil, the waters are calm and the Argentine National Team seems to have reset to put its new goal between its eyebrows: the Copa América.
"It's not that we were worried, but we were with that doubt of knowing why (Scaloni) had said that, but with the peace of mind of knowing him, knowing what he formed, knowing that he always wants to go for more," he said.
Photo Ira L. Black / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP
"That message was good for the group to continue in the same way, competing among ourselves. Ultimately, this sport entails that," he added.
"It is a group that has been formed a long time ago. We are preparing in the best way. We raised the bar a lot and we have to continue raising it even higher. That goes hand in hand with training, in each game. The group is committed and eager to continue meeting objectives, which is what is important," he stated.