It’s hard to understand Martin Skrtel. If we asked you to describe him in three words, there would almost certainly be a lot more negative phrases than positive ones.
And yet, he’s also a player who’s capable of performing at the highest level. There have been many occasions when he’s been man of the match, and he’s also popped up with some crucial goals (none more so that that beautiful brace in the 5-1 over Arsenal in 2014!).
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In his never-ending oscillation between sublime and shocking, tonight’s performance against England was most definitely at the sublime end of the scale.
He was a rock for the Slovakians – blocking, organising, controlling, leading.
It’s fair to say that Twitter – and especially Liverpool fans – were stunned.
Here is some of the best reaction:
Liverpool to sell skrtel for £5mil after that performance… Keep him
— Gary Ray (@GaryRay_LFC) June 20, 2016
The power of needing a new contract. #Skrtel #ENGSLO pic.twitter.com/C6cXdiuICw
— Liverpool Red (@lfcredynwa) June 20, 2016
@BBCSport Shame with all those Liverpool players on the pitch tonight the best one played for Slovakia #Skrtel #EURO2016
— Dave Illingworth (@DJI81) June 20, 2016
WHY SKRTEL. YOUR ONE GOOD GAME THIS YEAR
— Indigo (@IndigoLFC) June 20, 2016
@henrywinter has Skrtel got a twin brother who plays for Liverpool ?
— Chris Westlake (@ceewestie) June 20, 2016
You spend year after year watching Skrtel clangers every week, but the 1 TIME you need an error he turns into Nesta… #ENGSLO
— Simon Cripps (@AI_Football) June 20, 2016
Skrtel will be sore tomorrow. His body did things this evening that it has done for two years at Liverpool.
— jim_price (@jim_price) June 20, 2016
The irony. Many Liverpool fans on Twitter slated Joe Allen and Skrtel. Both been amongst the best in their positions at the Euros. #clueless
— T1m11233 (@T1mc0) June 20, 2016
England’s greatest achievement this tournament has been increasing Skrtel’s value. Absolutely phenomenal effort making him look good
— Con (@ConsFootball) June 20, 2016
Every aspiring centre-back should get a DVD of Martin Skrtel tonight, organising, heading clear, tackling, intercepting & blocking. #SVKENG
— Henry Winter (@henrywinter) June 20, 2016
Worst thing about tonight is casual football fans who haven’t watched Liverpool properly for a long time thinking Skrtel is good…
— Goose (@Goose_PW) June 20, 2016