World Cup: "I love you so much, you are a crack" ... Argentina worships its guardian angel Martinez

Almost seven minutes of added time and the Argentinian fans stopped breathing.

Garang Kuol inherited the leather around 5.50 meters but Emiliano Martinez deployed to prevent an Australian equalizer (90 + 7) and send the Albiceleste into the quarters.

The Argentine goalkeeper managed to capture the leather after a rebound and, while the Argentine people were able to shout their joy, he remained a few more moments in apnea, buried under two of his teammates.

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— @El_Futbolesque (@futbolesque1) December 4, 2022

Nicolas Otamendi and Enzo Fernandez threw themselves on the Aston Villa goalkeeper, transcended by the stoppage of their guardian angel, their legs surely cut off by the fear of seeing Australia push the Albiceleste into extra time.

“I threw myself on the ground, because I had cramps, I was dead and I said to him:

, “ignited Otamendi at the microphone of Tyc Sports after the qualification (2-1).

The praise does not stop there: “All of Argentina must have thought the same thing, he saved us from an equalizer.

Not conceding this kind of goal is celebrated like a hat-trick!

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“We need a great goalkeeper, we have the best”

Lionel Scaloni's team had mastered the game until the Australian score was reduced in the 77th minute.

“From a controlled game, we went to a cold shower, confirmed Martinez.

I had three beasts defending in front of me, but I had to help them and, thank God, I did.

“If the 30-year-old Villan made the second decisive stop of his World Cup after one against Mexico, he had not always been decisive so far.

His morale even shook the ground after the initial defeat against Saudi Arabia (2-1).

“I suffered a lot these three days, he revealed to TV Publica about the moments that followed the disappointment against the Saudis.

I talked to my psychologist a lot because conceding two goals on two strikes is hard to swallow.

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"Dibu", his nickname, feels the pressure of "45 million Argentines" behind him but this stop against the Socceroos did him the greatest good.

"It's my first World Cup, I try to do my best and what I appreciate the most is the peace of mind I have," he smiled after qualifying. for the quarters, where Argentina will meet the Netherlands.

A first World Cup at 30, the native of Mar del Plata revealed himself late in life.

Then at Arsenal, he took advantage of Bernd Leno's injury to show up in the summer of 2020 after the first confinement.

Sent in stride to Birmingham, Martinez has been delighting Aston Villa fans for two and a half years.

Beyond the spotlight given to his career, he relieved the spirit of the Albiceleste coach.

If it has not always been rich as a goalkeeper, Argentina is now taking advantage of the obvious Martinez to defend its goal line.

The former Gunner has been settled since June 2021. To the delight of Rodrigo De Paul, interviewed after the round of 16: “I am aware that to achieve great things, you need a great goalkeeper.

And we have the best.

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