Emiliano Martinez has been an absolute game-changer for Argentina.A back-up goalkeeper for so much of his career, Martinez's rise to the top over the past few years has been fascinating to watch and Argentina have been the beneficiaries.It seems like ages ago that Martinez stepped in to replace an injured Bernd Leno at Arsenal, setting the wheels in motion for him to establish himself as the number one shot-stopper for both Aston Villa and his nation.And having played a massive role in Argentina's Copa America triumph last summer, we should hardly be surprised to see him pulling out the heroics once again at Qatar 2022.When Lionel Scaloni needed him most, he delivered, bailing out the Argentines with a sensational display in the quarter-final penalty shootout against the Netherlands.Check out our 2022 World Cup hub pageJust as he'd shown at the Copa America, Martinez is formidable when facing spot-kicks and his saves to deny Virgil van Dijk and Steven Berghuis ultimately kept Lionel Messi's dreams alive.And although there wasn't quite so much drama and jeopardy in Argentina's fairly comfortable semi-final win over Croatia, that doesn't mean that Martinez was any less hyped to get the job done.Buy your Lionel Messi t-shirt from the GMS ShopLionel Messi GOAT rangeLionel Messi GOAT range

What did Martinez say at HT vs Croatia?

In fact, we can feel pretty darn certain of that fact in light of tunnel footage which has emerged of Martinez and his comrades talking in the tunnel at half-time in the Lusail Iconic Stadium.

The 30-year-old can be seen speaking to his teammates as they were 45 minutes away from reaching a second World Cup final in eight years, and exactly what he said has been picked up on.

According to Roy Nemer, who reports on the Argentine national team, Martinez said: "The goal is at zero, guys. They are going to have to kill me to score a goal. We don't give anything away, we don't give anything."

Video: Martinez hyped to keep a clean sheet vs Croatia

Now that's what you call a man who's determined to keep a clean sheet.

And surprise, surprise, it worked an absolute treat with Martinez ensuring that Argentina didn't concede a goal for the first time in their knockout journey this winter, duly winning the second-half 2-0.

Martinez flexes his muscles vs Croatia.

Soccer Football - FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 - Semi Final - Argentina v Croatia - Lusail Stadium, Lusail, Qatar - December 13, 2022 Argentina's Emiliano Martinez celebrates their third goal scored by Julian Alvarez REUTERS/Dylan Martinez

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It also happens to be exactly the right attitude for Martinez and Argentina to channel as they face their toughest challenge of the tournament yet in the form of reigning world champions France.

Lining up against the likes of Kylian Mbappe, Olivier Giroud, Antoine Griezmann and Ousmane Dembele, the kings of South America will have to harness all of their warrior's spirit if they're going to put the World Cup in Messi's hands.

However, if the half-time footage of Martinez tells us anything, it's that you can rest assured that he'll do anything and everything in his power to ensure that France never find the back of the net.


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