Argentina: Emiliano Martinez gives another shot in the save against Kolo Muani

The action has definitely become legendary. On December 18, 2022, during the World Cup final in Qatar, the French and Argentinians were heading towards penalties in Lusail, when Ibrahima Konaté, the Blues defender, launched Randal Kolo Muani behind the southern defense -American. The one who then plays for Eintracht Frankfurt, author of a resounding entry into play during the first period of the match, then finds himself face to face with Emiliano Martinez, the last Argentine defense. But at the end of added time and a stunning encounter, it was the latter who won the duel by diverting the former Nantes player’s volley. A miraculous stop of the foot and above all decisive in the quest for the world title of Lionel Messi’s partners, winners on penalties a few minutes later (3-3, 4 tab to 2).

“I swear I’ve saved way better balls than that.”

Two years after this final entered the pantheon of the World Cup, the Argentine Football Federation brought together several players from the game, including Emiliano Martinez, to evoke some memories. The opportunity for the Aston Villa goalkeeper to return, once again, to his face-to-face victory against Randal Kolo Muani. “I swear I’ve saved much better balls than that,” Dibu said. “On this one, I closed my eyes and said, ‘Please, let him shoot me in the face. face’. Not trusting the defense left me ready When he eats Ota (Nicolás Otamendi, editor’s note), I was standing in front of him and diagonally The ball was coming down. that’s why I raised my arms, because normally a goalkeeper puts them down,” he also explained. Like André-Pierre Gignac’s post in the Euro 2016 final against Portugal (0-1), we risk hearing this action being recounted by the protagonists for a very long time…