Argentina against Croatia, Lionel Messi against Luka Modric... but also Emiliano Martinez against Dominik Livakovic.
The two goalkeepers, sparkling since the start of the competition, will fight a duel from a distance and will play a crucial role for their team in the first semi-final of this World Cup.
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“If you want to be an important footballer, you can also be a goalkeeper
,” legend Gianluigi Buffon once said.
This sentence has never resonated so well in our minds since we saw the remarkable performances of the Argentinian and Croatian goalkeepers.
Martinez, a revelation or rather a confirmation
Argentina not only have Messi in their team but can also rely on an excellent goalkeeper, Emiliano Martinez.
And the Pulga knows it, he who preferred to run towards his teammate to thank him rather than go towards the decisive shooter, Lautaro Martinez, during the qualification of the Albiceleste.
Lionel Messi came to congratulate his goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez on his decisive saves.
PAUL CHILDS / PANORAMIC
The Argentinian goalkeeper had a bad experience of the complicated start of the World Cup for his selection (2-1 defeat against Saudi Arabia).
“I suffered a lot after the game against Saudi Arabia.
I spoke with a psychologist, because they had two shots, and I was unable to stop one.
I have 45 million Argentines behind me, and I should have done more
,” he told the press.
Against the Netherlands, Emiliano Martínez woke up and quickly reassured Messi and his family by stopping the first two Dutch strikes at the start of the test.
Two parades that were enough for Argentina to continue the adventure in Qatar.
In the mixed zone, the Argentine defender Germán Pezzella was not mistaken:
"We owe him a big candle, we know we were hot."
Before these miraculous exploits in the quarter-finals, the 30-year-old goalkeeper had also been heroic against Australia in the eighth by making a saving save at the very end of the game in front of the young Garang Kuol.
After a stint of nearly ten years at Arsenal, he is now an indisputable starter at Aston Villa, a club he joined two years ago for a check for 21.5 million euros.
As far as the selection is concerned, it was not until he was 29 and June 2021 that he defended the colors of his country for the first time.
Unlike Livakovic, he has this well-known “grinta” among Argentines, especially since the start of the World Cup.
Livakovic, a rise in power
Croatia has more than ever found its titular goalkeeper, Dominik Livakovic.
The latter had earned his place in the Croatian cages in mid-2019 by leaving the doorman of Atletico de Madrid, Ivo Grbic, on the bench.
The succession of Danijel Subasic, great craftsman of the epic of 2018, is therefore without a shadow of a doubt all found for the coach Zlatko Dalic, who moreover had specified that Livakovic "had put himself at the level of
Subasic
" lately.
Moreover, the 27-year-old is following in the footsteps of the former AS Monaco goalkeeper as he achieved the same feat as him, namely stopping three shots on goal during a penalty shootout in World Cup.
It was against Japan in the round of 16.
Only two other goalkeepers have already done so, Ricardo with Portugal in 2006 and therefore Subasic in 2018. Beyond his level, the Dynamo Zagreb goalkeeper impresses with his measured and calm character.
“
I have great confidence in him, he gives confidence to others
,” Zlatko Dalic assured after the match against Japan before the main interested party spoke.
"
I did my best and I was a bit lucky
," said the modest and reassuring doorman.
Livakovic qualifies Croatia on Marquinhos' missed shot on goal.
DYLAN MARTINEZ / REUTERS
Against Brazil, the savior of Croatia again put on his hero's cape by multiplying the parades (16) during regulation time before magnifying himself during a new penalty shootout.
Marquinhos, in failure during his attempt, must still today have nightmares of Dominik Livakovic, who had first stopped the first penalty signed Rodrygo.
Specialist in the field, Dominik Livakovic would be in the sights of Bayern Munich to replace Manuel Neuer, unavailable until the end of the season.
If the two nations continue this semi-final until the penalty shootout, the shooters will know what to expect with these two goalkeepers.
Who of Emiliano Martinez or Dominik Livakovic will emerge victorious from this distance duel?
Answer Tuesday evening at 8 p.m. during Argentina-Croatia.