Goal hero Martinez 'dreamed' of scoring semifinal winner

Argentina's World Cup semifinal match-winner Lautaro Martinez said he had "dreamed" of scoring the goal which took his team through to the final at England's expense on Wednesday.

"I dreamed it. I told Alexis (Mac Allister) that I was going to score," Martinez said after his heroics off the bench in Atlanta sealed a 2-1 semifinal victory for the reigning champion over its bitter rival.

"And, I said on the bench to Facundo Medina that I was going to come on and score."

The defending champion was trailing 1-0 at the break, and was still behind when the Inter Milan striker was introduced in the 81st minute in place of left-back Nicolas Tagliafico.

Lionel Messi set up Enzo Fernandez to equalize in the 85th minute, and then, in the second minute of second-half stoppage time, the Argentina captain crossed for Martinez to head in the winner.

When he spoke again to reporters after leaving the dressing room, Martinez said he had just gotten off the phone with his mother, who was at work.

The 28-year-old Martinez lost his place in Lionel Scaloni's Argentina team early on its run to glory at the 2022 World Cup.

This time, however, he started all three group games, scoring in the 3-1 win over Jordan, but was substituted in the narrow victory over Cape Verde during the round of 32 and has not started since.

Nevertheless, he came off the bench to score in the 3-1 extra-time defeat of Switzerland in the quarterfinals, and, again, to play a decisive semifinal role against England.

"We are going to be coming up against a top-class side who has not lost in 38 games and has great players," said Martinez.

"Now, we need to get some rest, but also enjoy this, because what we are doing is not easy; getting back to the final as defending champion three and a half years after winning it."

Spain's last defeat was a 1-0 reverse in a friendly against Colombia in March 2024.

The only previous World Cup meeting between Spain and Argentina took place at the 1966 tournament in England, when the South Americans won 2-1 in a group-stage contest played at Birmingham's Villa Park.

AFP