BeauThere is no telling how many Martinezes there are in Nus Iris. But there are three Martinezes in the Argentina team. Lautaro, Lisandro and Goalie Emilio. Substitute Lisandro saved Argentina by saving Aziz Bahaich’s long run as Australia’s threat increased. Garang Kuwol’s shot from close range was not only blocked by Amy Martinez but also caught without the ball falling to the ground. Had Emilio dropped that catch, the game would have gone to extra time. What else did Martinez do? Messi presents Lautoro with a very open chance but fires it wide. Lauterau was already in the starting eleven in the first game. But Martinez has not played as expected. Lauterrock missed the target in the next chance, but Australia’s goalie Matthew Ryan caught it.
Argentina’s second goal came from Ryan’s mistake. Instead, Australia scored a goal when Enzo Fernandes deflected Goodwin’s kick into his own post. So those goals can be said to cancel each other out.
In his 1000th game, Messi was seen as the real Messi. Passes between the legs, passes, receives, stops the ball when faced with a lone opponent and invites him to play. Viewers get it as a complete package. The creation and destruction of the first goal belongs to Messi. That free kick and the goal that leaked through Harry Suter’s legs was at the end of a tussle between Bahich and Messi.
The Australian players were careful not to get carried away by Messi’s influence during the game. Keanu Backes, like Bahic, had initially argued with Messi to establish his right to equality on the turf. It’s only during the game. Backus was among the Australian players who took a picture with Messi in the corridor of the dressing room after the game.
Needless to say, Holland will be a tough opponent for Argentina. But it will benefit Argentina, who face tougher tests. Argentina also tried to get back by reducing the defensive line to three men as Australia will pounce as any losing team does in the final stages. Argentina played like a losing team which raised the temperature of the game. It’s just that Argentina’s effort was not successful enough. Australia returned with their heads down.
Holland’s trap to subdue the youth ranks of America really worked. Holland had good facilities and openings to score three and a goal. After two assists, Denzel Dumfries scored an own goal. The center of America’s Adams, Musa and McKenney alliance was seen as weakened. Hollande has the professional skills to cool America’s energy. The American side lacked the services of a goal-scoring player, even though they put more balls on target. The goal of Wright, who came as a substitute, somehow rose up and went into the net. The complaint that there is not much to see of Holland has been made in the presence of their coach Louis van Gaal. But he must be thinking that as long as he wins, he doesn’t have to think about it.
His passion for the game is highlighted by the fact that he is also taking on the role of coach while undergoing cancer treatment. There is another such life story in the Holland line. When the World Cup started, Germany’s Manuel Neuer and Belgium’s Thibaut Quartet were the most famous goalkeepers. This World Cup is a loss not only for their teams but for both of them personally who did not shine as players. They will want to quickly forget the performances of Quartua against Morocco and Neuer against Costa Rica. Instead there is Poland’s Szczesny and Holland’s long-legged Andries Knoppert. At 6 feet 8 inches tall, Knoppert will be noticed not only by his looks but also by his play.
The 28-year-old may have to deal with losses due to injury. It is now a story of redemption through the World Cup. His first chance to play for the national team was against Senegal in Group A. It has not been tested in the national team before. Knoppert’s club career began in 2013 with native Heerenveen. A knee injury interrupted the game. It went on for almost a year. He then played for Nach Breda in 2014–18, making six appearances there. Then in Italy at Foggia in the second division. Eight games. Two games at home Dordrecht in 2019-20. 21-22 at Go Ahead Eagles. A return to Heerenveen this year after playing 15 league games and five Dutch Cup games. That’s when the call to the national team comes. There may not be many stories in this world cup that surpass this playing life and score goals. There may be stories of migration and poverty. There it is.
Whether Knoppert’s playing career will continue to flourish remains to be seen. Knoppert had a trip similar to Saudi Arabia’s defeat of Argentina. No matter where it ends up, there will be Nopert in the eyes of the spectators at the World Cup.