They are known as Emi, Cutie, and Butcher. Argentina’s backline was formed in the Premier League with the mission of keeping England at bay.
The nicknames of Emiliano Martínez, Cristian Romero (aka Cuti) and Lisandro Martínez need no further explanation. They are Argentina’s warriors, and all three embody the spirit and fight of their country’s football identity, which is why they believe they can win back-to-back World Cups.
Ironically, they face the dual threat of Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham, a British pair who no longer play in English football. Bayern Munich superstar Kane left Tottenham and the Premier League, while Bellingham never played in the Premier League, instead opting to leave Birmingham City to join Borussia Dortmund and then Real Madrid.
This means England fans are very familiar with the Argentine warriors who stand in front of the Three Lions and their dream of reaching the World Cup final for the first time in 60 years.
Kane is very proud to be England’s captain. It’s the highlight of his career, it means the world to him, and passion courses through his veins. Watching Bellingham talk about playing for England and representing the fans in the shirt is enough to send shivers down your spine.
They made England great again. The fear is gone. The shirt no longer weighs you down. That resonates with the rest of the team as well.
And that has always been the case with playing for Argentina. They have a different mindset, a win-at-all-costs mentality that helped them become three world champions in 1978, 1986 and 2002.
This gives them a chance to become the first two-year world champion since Brazil in 1962.
And it comes from passion. They don’t give up and keep going and just find a way. They may not be as good as the previous generation, but they have Lionel Messi.
Lionel Messi is the top scorer in consecutive World Cups (Image: Marcel Bonte/Soccrates/Getty Images)
But it is Emiliano Martínez, Romero and Lisandro Martínez who provide the same spirit as any Argentina team.
Aston Villa keeper Martinez has a great mentality. This time, he shaved his head and dyed the Argentine flag on the side of his head to show how proud he was to represent his country.
His former manager Arsene Wenger told Mirror Football in 2022 of Martinez’s “huge passion”, while former Arsenal transfer fixer Dick Law spoke of his “character, willpower and huge drive”.
Law recalled that Martinez’s first goal after signing the contract was to buy his mother an apartment. He had a humble upbringing. His biggest goal was to appreciate his family. His pride and passion say it all.
Romero has been divided among critics over his performances at Tottenham. As a young child, his sister called him “Kuti” because she could not pronounce his name correctly. I froze.
His concentration and temperament are big problems for Tottenham, but he is giving his heart and soul to Tottenham. He will do anything, absolutely anything, to stop his opponent.
Emiliano Martinez, Lisandro Martinez and Cristian Romero of Argentina walk during a training session at the Sporting KC Training Center (Image: 2026 Gustavo Pagano)
Romero is putting it on the line for Argentina and no one can doubt that he is one of the best centre-halves in the world if he concentrates.
Lisandro Martinez was clearly plagued by injuries during his time at Manchester United, so we only saw flashes of his best. But Martinez is also a tough player. Butcher’s nickname says it all. He’s a scary competitor because he flies into tackles.
Again, he’s not the biggest defender, but his reading of the game and edges make him very effective as a reader of the game who can step into the midfield and make passes and tackles.
Another strength of theirs is their experience in English. Apart from Kane and Bellingham, they know everything about England and England’s players and that must be worth something.
They also have a mutual understanding of the rivalry between England and Argentina, both on and off the pitch, which will only fuel them further.
The Argentine side may not have a ton of stars or superstars, but they have the mentality, the formidable backbone and the best of all time, which is why they will be England’s toughest opponent.
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