Aston Villa: National media unanimous in Emi Martinez review for Argentina vs Jordan
Aston Villa star Emi Martinez featured once again as Argentina secured victory against Jordan in the early hours of Sunday morning.
The 33-year-old made his third consecutive start of the World Cup as his nation made it nine points from nine in the group stage.
A round of 32 clash against Cape Verde now lies ahead after a 3-1 win at the AT&T Stadium.
Goals from Giovani Lo Celso, Lautaro Martinez came before Mousa Tamari halved the deficit, before Lionel Messi netted a free-kick.
That helped to maintain a 100 per cent win rate in the groups, but the same can't be said about the clean sheet record.
Martinez will have been frustrated to concede in Dallas as the national media made their feelings clear on his role.
Emi Martinez blame assessed in Jordan strike vs Argentina
The Jordanians featured at the World Cup for the very first time this summer and certainly made history for themselves.
Despite not sealing a win in any of their three games, they still found the back of the net.
They scored in every group stage clash, with their third and final one coming against Argentina in Texas.
Tamari snuck in at the back post to convert a Eshan Haddad cross, leaving Martinez fuming as he so nearly made a stunning save.
That prompted local media outlets to back the Villa man, with TN suggesting that "he wasn't responsible" for conceding.
La Pagina Millonaria echoed that, leaving him with "zero responsibility for Jordan's goal" while being a "commanding presence" for Argentina".
All this was summed up by TYC Sports, who were stunned that Martinez "almost cleared" Tamari's strike, but once again suggested there was "nothing he could do" to stop it in the end.
The numbers behind Aston Villa star Martinez's performance vs Jordan
Things were always going to be relatively easy for the keeper against the 63rd-rated country in FIFA's ratings.
That is how it turned out to be, even if Martinez did concede after 55 minutes.
He had nothing to do outside of that moment as he wasn't forced into a single save in Dallas.
The 33-year-old didn't allow that to shift his focus as he maintained a 100 per cent pass accuracy and long ball success rate on the day.
The Villa man also completed four throws and six recoveries as he looked to keep his side ticking.
Martinez can once again keep his head held high, even if his frustration was visible after conceding for the first time at this World Cup.