The goalkeeper of the Argentine National Team, Emiliano “Dibu” Martínez, confessed that the World Cup final in Qatar, against France, “was the best game I played in my life”, in reference to the saved penalty and the mythical one-on-one hand at minute 123.
In this sense, he described his save in the 123rd minute to Randal Kolo Muani: “I tried to attack him diagonally to reduce the angle and show him the near post. Obviously I stretched that leg and arm well to that side praying that he would go there and I put my body so firm that the ball bounced hard”.
“These are very fast moments and sometimes you have to have a share of luck, we could have even won against it. But the game ended and I didn’t reproach myself that we could have won in the 90s, I finished the game and said what a good football game It was the best game I played in my life”, he recalled.
In addition, he revealed how the talk with Lionel Messi went after the conquest of Qatar: “I told him after the game: ‘I hope it’s not your last World Cup.’ It took him so long to win titles for the National Team and now that we’ve won three finals in a row, why not keep trying. Once the door is opened for you you have to continue walking through the tunnel. I think he has to give more.”
On the other hand, he detailed the key points for the conquest of the third World Cup: “We did it, at a collective level. Many players individually were up to the task, guys who were playing their first World Cup including me, we knew how to take the pressure off a side and enjoy”.
“Obviously the 10 helped us in every game, he told Messi to stop winning the Man of The Match because he won it every game, he told him to leave something for the poor. We helped him and accompanied him very well, even players like Angelito Di María, who had not played in the semifinal or the quarterfinals and in the final he was our best player”, he recalled.
In addition, he highlighted the level of the number eleven: “You need those people who stand out at key moments, Mac Allister as he played in the final and, when Di María left the field, I applauded him internally because I think he gave us the world final I think Angelito was the most decisive player in the finals.”
“He did it in the Maracana, at Wembley he played a great game. He had an injury, he was a bit touched and the way he played the final… The truth is that I will be eternally grateful to Angelito, for how he played a world final” , added.
Lastly, “Dibu” showed his anxiety in the face of what will be the first match of the World Champion in his country: “I can’t wait to play in Argentina. We talked about that with the boys, about how nice it will be. Everyone is already looking forward to the roster and to go there and play. I still don’t know if the two games at the Monumental are confirmed or not, but it’s going to be beautiful. I can’t wait to go.”
