It has now been confirmed that Manchester United will have a player at the World Cup final – the second successive time it has happened after Paul Pogba was involved four years ago in Russia.
This time, summer signing Lisandro Martinez is the one aiming for world glory after his Argentina side comfortably beat Croatia to seal their place in the final.
Martinez was dropped to the bench despite his impressive performance in the previous round against the Netherlands but the 24-year-old did play in the second half, meaning he has now featured in five of Argentina’s six World Cup games.
Martinez and Argentina are now 90 minutes away from avenging their heartbreaking loss in the 2014 final to Germany but the United star could be facing one of his club team-mates in Saturday’s final.
Argentina will face either France or Morocco and that could mean that United’s first-choice centre-back pairing are lining up against each other in the biggest game there is.
Raphael Varane missed France’s first game due to the injury he sustained at Stamford Bridge earlier this year but the 29-year-old has started every game since.
Varane and Martinez have forged a seemingly unbreakable bond at the heart of United’s defence since they were first paired together and Erik ten Hag will be watching the final with a keen eye if France beat Morocco.
