Martinez’s penalty influence goes beyond shot-stopping. He has used eye contact, complaints to officials and exaggerated celebrations to turn the walk from halfway into a psychological contest.
The key facts are clear:
The updated rules limit behaviours such as approaching the taker, handling the ball to slow the process, throwing it away or touching the goal frame. England should therefore expect stronger protection from the referee than previous opponents received.
The best response is not to outplay Martinez theatrically. It is to remove the extra drama.
Harry Kane and England’s other takers should know their order, select their corner early and avoid any exchange that gives Martinez control of the moment. The routine should be reduced to three actions: ball, whistle, kick.
That approach also protects England from the goalkeeper’s most effective weapon: interruption. A complaint about the ball or a delay over its placement may last only seconds, but it can move attention away from the strike. England’s players must leave those disputes to the referee.
The rule changes matter only if they are applied consistently. Martinez should not be allowed to walk towards a taker, seize the ball or manufacture a delay before the kick. England’s captain and senior players can reinforce that discipline by avoiding confrontation and directing every complaint through the referee.
Martinez’s presence cannot be removed. His saves, size and confidence will still shape the shootout. But England can prevent the contest becoming personal.
If the semi-final goes beyond 120 minutes, the first penalty will test England’s preparation more than its courage. The next storyline will be whether the new rules produce a cleaner shootout - or whether Martinez finds another way to make the occasion his own.