The Sun published a report on the psychological maneuvers that, according to the British media, the Argentine goalkeeper uses to destabilize his rivals in the lead-up to the match between Argentina and England
Complaints to the referee: it highlights that he often constantly complains to the referee before penalties to sow doubt and divert the attention of the kicker.
Exaggerated celebrations: it considers that he celebrates his saves exuberantly to increase the pressure on the next kickers.
Just hours before the 2026 World Cup semifinal between Argentina and England, goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez is once again in the spotlight. This time it is not for a performance between the posts, but for a lengthy article published by the British newspaper The Sun, which analyzed the psychological strategies that, according to the outlet, the world champion uses to gain an advantage over his rivals.
Under the title of "10 dirty tricks" of Dibu, the publication described a series of behaviors it considers common in the Argentine goalkeeper, especially during penalty shootouts. "Emiliano Martínez's dubious tactics will be one of the biggest threats England will face against Argentina", warned the English newspaper.
According to the portal, these are the ten resources that the Argentine goalkeeper uses to try to destabilize his opponents:
Intimidation in penalties: the outlet claims that Martínez approaches the kickers before the shot to interrupt their routine and create pressure.
Verbal provocations: it recalls episodes like the 2021 Copa América semifinal against Colombia, when the goalkeeper spoke to the kickers to try to influence their decisions.
Delays in handing over the ball: it states that he often holds onto the ball for a few seconds before each execution to break the opponent's rhythm.
Throwing the ball away from the penalty spot: it mentions the action with Aurélien Tchouaméni in the Qatar 2022 final, when he threw the ball away from the execution point to delay the shot.
Use of his physique: at 1.96 meters, he tries to impose himself visually between the posts through theatrical movements and gestures.
Disturbing eye contact: it claims that he fixes his gaze on the eyes of the kicker during the run-up, instead of following the ball, to make them uncomfortable.
Calculated rebounds: it recalls testimonies from youth coaches who pointed out that, at times, he allows controlled rebounds to induce hasty decisions from forwards.
The "villain role": it asserts that Martínez deliberately cultivates a provocative image with cheers, dances, and gestures to absorb the pressure from the stadium and transfer it to the opponent.
The report recalled some of the most well-known actions of the Argentine goalkeeper in penalty shootouts and also referenced the regulatory changes promoted by IFAB after the Qatar 2022 World Cup to limit certain behaviors of goalkeepers during those situations.
The publication comes on the eve of another clash between Argentines and English in a World Cup and once again places Dibu as one of the main focal points of attention. Beyond the critical tone of the article, the repercussions also reflect the importance that the Argentine National Team's goalkeeper has acquired in such matches, especially due to his history in penalty shootouts.
