Former Argentina, Napoli, and Fiorentina winger Daniel Bertoni feels that Inter striker Lautaro Martinez showed his nerve and character to step up and take the decisive penalty in Argentina’s shootout win over the Netherlands.
Speaking to Milan-based newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport in an interview published in today’s print edition, via FCInterNews, Bertoni expressed the hope that the spot kick can be the moment that finally unlocks the Nerazzurri striker’s best form at the World Cup.
Martinez’s World Cup had certainly not been going according to plan heading into Argentina’s quarterfinal clash with the Netherlands on Friday.
The 25-year-old had gone into the tournament in Qatar as the Albiceleste’s first-choice centre-forward, but had dropped to the bench for Manchester City’s Julian Alvarez after a failure to score or assist a goal at the tournament.
However, Martinez still proved that he can be important to his national team in Qatar with his pressure penalty to send them through to the semifinals, and there could still be more to come from him as the tournament heads towards its climax.
“The pressure on that penalty was enormous, and he showed great character in that moment,” Bertoni said of Martinez’s penalty.
“He’s a born goalscorer,” he continued of Martinez, “he thrives on goals – sometimes the ball just doesn’t go in, but then once the cork pops everything else comes naturally.”
“I hope that this is one of those times for him.”
“He’ll still be useful for this team,” Bertoni suggested of Martinez, “even if right now Julian Alvarez is more suited to the team’s style of play.”
