Nicolás Otamendi, the Messi of the Argentine defense who also plays his best World Cup

The lights go with Lionel Messi. Alright then. Optimal. Leo led the national team to the top four in the world with dribbling, assists and goals. Even the flashes remain angel of mary because, though I entered at the end, spaghetti He is also one of the icons of this team. But there, in the midst of the celebrations, in the midst of the outburst of absolute happiness that produced Lautaro Martínez’s last penalty, there is another story of this national group which is the same as the previous two and which it has been maintaining with clenched teeth for back and push forward. Nicolás Otamendi is the other Messi of Qatar 2022, the Messi of the Argentine defense.

The 34-year-old defender is also shining in this World Cup. Work him on the backline, with four or five men, it was flawless. It anticipates, it cuts from below, it is insurmountable from above, it gives security at the start. Eightwho is going through his third World Cup, is an indispensable vertebra of Scaloneta’s backbone.

“We knew it would be difficult. We deserved to win it in 90 minutes but due to the circumstances of the match it didn’t happen and we went to extra time. We knew how to attack and defend. We also deserved to win it in extra time and we didn’t succeed. We went to penalties and there we are lucky to have Dibu who defended two penalties, he’s a beast”said the central defender who emerged in Vélez Sarsfield who currently plays for Benfica in Portugal after the grueling victory against the Netherlands on penalties that left the national team parked in the semi-finals (it will be against Croatia on Tuesday).

His previous World Cup experiences had been with a bad taste in his mouth. In South Africa 2010, with Diego Maradona on the bench, he finished at right back in the win against Germany which led to elimination. Brazil 2014 lived it from the outside. And in Russia 2018 he was one more member who got caught up in the tug of war of the group with the ups and downs of Jorge Sampaoli.

But now… Now it’s very different. And she explained why: “I talked about it with my family, this is a unique moment. I told them that what I’m experiencing has never happened to me. I’m enjoying a World Cup a lot. Concentration, every moment… We know it’s all finals and we have to play them all to the fullest as we always have, we have to stay focused and serene because we still have a final ahead of us”. Total He has 98 caps for the national team and four goals. In 97 he was the owner.

“There’s a teddy bear in the piece. But they’re two people in one because he kills you on the pitch, from above and below”said Rodrigo De Paul, a roommate who struck up a friendship with him when they shared a club in Valencia.

And so is Otamendi. A Doctor Jekyll from the white line outwards, who prefers to keep a low profile and generally speak as little as possible in front of the cameras, so much so that even the Kun Aguero revealed it “He’s quiet but he throws snacks at you. From time to time it’s like he throws a quiet joke at you and laughs to himself”. But when it comes to taking action, a mr hyde alienated that lurks the elite attackers. For Pep Guardiola himself, he was irreplaceable when he had him at Manchester City.

He is a lion with a voracious appetite who is not willing to let any prey get away. Now, with the spirit of the 19 shirt, the same one worn by Oscar Ruggeri in 1986 and Daniel Passarella in 1978, Eight goes with everything against everyone in this World Cup.

“In the play of the last free kick, Paredes was fouled. But he wanted to charge him (by the Spanish referee, Mateu Lahoz) against it one minute from the end. There was also another one that was not visible, he charged a corner kick when no one had touched it. There are different situations in a match where you play the table”shot against the bad refereeing of the match at Lusail Stadium.

Fights apart, in conversation with clarionOtamendi was left with the team’s response to the impact of the 2-2 per hour: “They tied us up, it was a hard blow, but we had to continue, we had to get back up. Our mentality was set to stay positive and keep playing football. And we did. We get stronger under pressure.”

Lionel Messi is in the national team and there is the Messi of the defense, Nicolás Otamendi. The ideal leader who takes his revenge at his third World Cup.

The topic of the reaction against the Dutch in the final celebration

The photo went around the world and aroused criticism and even rejection from many quarters. As soon as Lautaro Martínez converted the last penalty, the one that gave him the ticket to Argentina, some of the national team players who were watching from the central circle ran out to celebrate, but first they made mocking gestures towards the men of the Holland .

Nicolás Otamendi is one of those seen in the image putting his hands to his ears. Why did they react like that? On the 19th Albiceleste explained the reason.

“I celebrated in my face because there was a Dutch player who, with every penalty we had, would come and say things to one of our players. The photo was out of context and we did it in response to that.”told the figure of the defense of the Scaloneta.

Undoubtedly things have happened – it was said – on the pitch that only the players themselves will know and keep to themselves. And in those heart-pounding moments it’s hard to contain your manners. Maybe it’s a lesson for what’s to come. The truth is that what happens on the pitch stays on the pitch.

Lusail, Qatar. Special delivery.