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Emiliano “Dibu” Martinez despatched alarm bells ringing on Sunday after being pulled from Aston Villa‘s beginning lineup on account of an damage, with the 2026 World Cup now lower than two months away. These fears have been shortly put to relaxation, nevertheless, following a optimistic replace on the Argentine goalkeeper’s situation.
Aston Villa have been visiting Nottingham Forest in an important push for UEFA Champions League qualification, with Martinez named within the beginning eleven. Nevertheless, in the course of the pre-match warmup, the Argentine was visibly uncomfortable whereas putting the ball, prompting the membership to withdraw him from the lineup and hand the gloves to Marco Bizot.
The priority was swiftly alleviated when Argentine soccer insider Gaston Edul reported that Martinez’s withdrawal was purely precautionary. The discomfort in his left leg was solely muscular in nature, together with his calf feeling tight slightly than pointing to any structural concern.
The choice to maintain him out was made with extra than simply the nationwide workforce in thoughts. Aston Villa face Bologna within the second leg of their Europa League quarterfinal subsequent Thursday, and with Martinez so central to the membership’s ambitions, the cautious strategy was deemed the wise name to guard him from any potential setback.
Martinez has been a cornerstone of Argentina’s latest trophy haul, taking part in a defining position within the 2021 Copa America, producing essential saves and a heroic penalty shootout efficiency on the 2022 World Cup, and repeating that heroics on the 2024 Copa America. Whereas Juan Musso and Gerónimo Rulli are succesful backup choices, dropping the Aston Villa goalkeeper to damage would signify a serious blow to Argentina‘s aspirations heading into the match in North America.
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Concern grows over Cristian Romero
Whereas the nervousness surrounding Martinez has subsided, one other key Argentina starter is now inflicting higher fear. Cristian Romero picked up a knock to his proper knee throughout Sunday’s match in opposition to Sunderland, after being pushed from behind by striker Brian Brobbey and colliding with Tottenham Hotspur goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky, forcing him off the pitch within the seventieth minute.
Essentially the most troubling second got here as Romero left the sector in tears, elevating fears that the damage may very well be extra severe than the preliminary impression instructed. With some instability detected within the knee, the defender will bear medical checks on Monday to find out the extent of the harm to the ligaments, particularly to ascertain whether or not he had sustained a medial collateral ligament damage or whether or not the ache was merely the results of the collision itself.
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