This time, no inappropriate gesture. The goalkeeper of Argentina world champion – and pet peeve of the France team – Emiliano Martinez was cheered on Thursday by several tens of thousands of people in his hometown, Mar del Plata (south), and spoke of his psychological duels won during the penalty shootout, AFP noted.
Up to 100,000 people, according to local media, had gathered on a seafront, facing a large beach, a nerve center and place of gatherings around giant screens during the World Cup in this large seaside town 420 km from Buenos Aires.
On the stage, Martinez, 30, named best goalkeeper of the World Cup, 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.
Distract shooters
He was 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 América won at the Brazil, with some cult scenes in Argentina. And as he did again at the World Cup, especially against France in the final last Sunday (3-3 after, 4-2 on pens).
“On penalties I get strong, and I know people respect me, I know that because opposing players have told me so,” he said. “And when you take the first penalty in a world final, you know that the other is going to be very nervous”, so “I try to ‘play’ it, to push the ball a little far, to talk to him …” Then by popular demand, he sparked a standing ovation from the crowd by performing the swaying little dance step he had performed at the World Cup, after one of France’s missed shots on goal.