The goalkeeper of Argentina world champion Emiliano Martinez was cheered on Thursday by tens of thousands of people in his hometown, Mar del Plata, a seaside town south of Buenos Aires.
The much criticized player since the world title acquired last Sunday against the France team (3-3, 4-2 on tab) could not help but put a layer on the Blues.
This time, he mentioned his psychological duels won during the penalty shootout, with a small dedication for a tricolor midfielder.
Up to 100,000 people, according to local media, had gathered on the seafront, facing a large beach, a nerve center and place of gatherings around giant screens during the World Cup.
On the stage, Martinez, 30, named best goalkeeper of the competition, said his pride in being the first "Marplatense" world champion.
"Not only for me, but for all the children, the little goalkeepers, who dream of going for the 4th star," he said.
He was of course asked about his recurring success in the penalty shootout exercise, and agreed that he did not hesitate to chamber, to try to distract the shooters, as he had done in 2021 at the Copa America won in Brazil, with some scenes that have become cults in Argentina.
And as he did again at the World Cup, against the Netherlands in the quarter-finals and France in the final.
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"During penalties I become strong, and I know that people respect me, I know it because opposing players have told me so," he said at the microphone.
And when we take the first penalty of a world final, we know that the other is going to be very nervous, so I try to push the ball a little far, to talk to him..." Aurélien Tchouaméni, the 3rd shooter of the Bleus, knows something about it.
As the Real Madrid midfielder concentrated before the award, Martinez deliberately threw the ball away.
The former Monegasque then missed the target.
“I knew the boy was going to be nervous, smiled the Aston Villa goalkeeper in front of the crowd.
I tried to play it mentally by throwing the ball, talking to him and he shot wide.
He shit himself on it, ”he laughed in front of the crowd of supporters.
Once again, the Aston Villa goalkeeper failed to celebrate the title without sticking to the nails and above all without mentioning the opponent.
It's time for him to stop his inappropriate outings.