Emiliano Martinez will face some familiar opponents when Argentina take on England in their World Cup semi-final encounter.

The reigning champions are aiming to reach consecutive World Cup finals, with Spain awaiting the winners, as they prepare to overcome England in their last-four contest.

The match in Atlanta represents the first competitive meeting between the two nations since the 2002 tournament and, remarkably, marks Lionel Messi’s first-ever appearance against the Three Lions.

However, Thomas Tuchel’s England side will also encounter several familiar faces, with a number of players in Argentina’s squad boasting either current or past Premier League experience.

No fewer than eight members of England’s upcoming opponents have played in the top tier of English football, with Emi Martinez standing out as one of the most notable names and expected to play a central role in the clash.

The Aston Villa goalkeeper captured global attention during Argentina’s 2022 World Cup triumph against France, producing crucial saves in extra time and during the decisive penalty shootout.

Martinez managed to stop one of the four penalties he faced in the final, helping Lionel Scaloni’s men lift their third World Cup title in history.

He was also honoured with the tournament’s Golden Glove award after keeping three clean sheets during Argentina’s victorious campaign in Qatar.

Across his international career, Martinez has saved 10 of the 24 penalties he has faced in shootouts for Argentina — performances that proved vital against both France and the Netherlands during the 2022 competition.

For club and country combined, the 33-year-old boasts an excellent record in shootouts, with four overall victories to his name. His last defeat in such a scenario dates back to the Carabao Cup while playing for Arsenal in 2019.

However, Martinez’s statistics for penalties faced in open play with Argentina are less impressive, as he has conceded five of the six he has encountered across all competitions.

England captain Harry Kane is among the players who have found success against Martinez, having scored both of his penalties against the Argentine while still representing Tottenham Hotspur.

The Bayern Munich striker has already converted two penalties at this World Cup, scoring against Mexico’s Raul Rangel and Croatia’s Dominik Livakovic.