Lisandro Martinez and Argentina kicked off their Copa America campaign on Thursday night, here’s how the Argentine press reacted.
As the reigning World Cup champions began their Copa America campaign, Manchester United had two players in the stadium.
Alejandro Garnacho was an unused substitute, while Lisandro Martinez played every minute at centre-back.
‘The Butcher’, as he is affectionately known had little to deal with coming up against a poor Canadian side who actually had United target Jonathan David up front.
After the game, the Argentine media were all reacting to the performance of Martinez, here’s what they all said.
How Argentine media scored Lisandro Martinez’s appearance for Argentina
After the win for Argentina, the media from the country were all reviewing Martinez’s display.
TYC Sports was among the outlets to review Martinez’s display, scoring him a 7/10 for the match: “7 Category in each outing, without too many drawbacks in the game. He almost committed a penalty but the VAR could not [give] the play reviewed because the infraction was outside the area.”
BolaVIP also reviewed Martinez’s appearance, handing him a 6/10, and writing: “Good with the ball at his feet, giving Argentina a clear exit. However, he had some complications with cross-Canada shipping.”
Next up was La Pagina Millonaria, which also rated Martinez as a 7/10 in the game: “He held the team next to Cuti in each rival attack and covered as much as he could the potholes left by the midfield. Precise with the ball at the start, both long and short, although somewhat overstated in the second half.”
One outlet named, La Selección Argentina, scored Martinez a 6/10 as he barely had anything to deal with due to Canada being poor: “Licha, like Romero, did not have as much participation in the face of the few arrivals from Canada through the centre of the area.”
La Voz 12 also handed Martinez a 6/10, and praised the partnership he’s building with Cuti Romero: “He continues to be the new second starting centre-back of the team, he put his power in the one against one and together with “Cuti” Romero they are called to be a very powerful and ‘rough’ duo.”
Finally, La Nacion actually rated him just 5/10, explaining that he alternated between being good and being bad: “The left-hander won the start in this match over an experienced player like Otamendi. Perhaps Scaloni sought more speed of defensive and offensive advance, and to relocate in the recoil. The left-hander usually gives him more offensive variables: from a vertical pass of his he sought to break the achique of the last line of Canada and left Julián Alvarez one on one, but the goalkeeper Crepeau saved the play.”
How Lisandro Martinez played against Canada
As he so often does for Argentina, Martinez enjoyed a quiet yet impressive outing at central defence for the world champions.
On the ball he was magnificent as always, completing 93 per cent of his passes, equating to 83 out of 89 as per FotMob. With these passes, he also created one chance, which Julian Alvarez scuppered.
Martinez had 98 touches, and completed two tackles out of two attempted. He also made six defensive actions, two clearances and two recoveries, while he won 50 per cent of his duels in the game.
It’s encouraging to see Martinez shining once again and we can only hope that he has now put his injury woes behind him for good.