Inter striker Lautaro Martinez has received praise in Italian media for scoring the decisive penalty for the Argentina in their shootout victory against the Netherlands in the quarterfinals of the World Cup.
The 25-year-old Nerazzurri striker received a grade of 6.5/10 for his performance in the player ratings for the match published in today’s print edition of Milan-based newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport, via FCInterNews, with his spot kick highlighted.
Martinez came on in the second half when Argentina looked to be cruising to a 2-0 victory to reach the semifinals in Qatar, before a late Dutch onslaught forced extra time with two goals.
The Inter striker added energy to what became a very scrappy contest in extra time, replacing the exhausted Julian Alvarez to lead the line for the Albiceleste.
It was Martinez who stepped up to take the decisive fifth penalty in the shootout, coolly slotting past Netherlands keeper Andries Noppert to send his country into rapture and into the semifinals of the competition.