Alan Shearer and Rio Ferdinand have blamed France’s Penalty Shootout loss to Argentina on the antics of Emiliano Martinez.
France took on Argentina in a breathtaking and heated 2022 World Cup Final at the Lusail Stadium in Qatar on Sunday, December 18.
Argentina took the lead in the first half with goals from Lionel Messi and Angel Di Maria.
After the first half, the game was brought to life by PSG talisman Kylian Mbappe who bagged a quick brace to bring the game to a 2-2 draw.
The match was dragged into extra-time after the scoreline stood at 2-2 draw after regulation time.
Lionel Messi put Argentina ahead again in the 108th minute before Kylian Mbappe scored from the penalty spot to tie the game at a 3-3 draw.
The match went into a penalty shootout, where France subsequently lost to Argentina.
Kylian Mbappe and Lionel Messi converted their penalties. Emiliano Martinez saved Coman’s penalty.
Aurelien Tchouameni missed his penalty, while Kolo Muani went on to retain the hopes of lifting the trophy, firing a thunderbolt into the net.
Argentina scored their four penalties, with substitute Montiel scoring the last penalty that won the match for Argentina.
According to Alan Shearer and Rio Ferdinand, Emiliano Martinez played a huge, undeniable role in Argentina’s shootout victory. Although he saved a penalty, his mind games on France penalty takers is said to have taken a toll on the players.
As Aurelien Tchouameni walked up to take his penalty, Martinez rolled the ball away from the Real Madrid midfielder, forcing him to walk over to collect it.
Such antics by Martinez is said to have had the desired effect as the 22-year-old Tchouameni dragged his penalty wide, prompting a dance from Martinez.
The miss put Argentina within touching distance of their third World Cup trophy.
Although Randal Kolo Muani scored his penalty, it only delayed the celebrations from the South Americans as substitute Gonzalo Montiel scored to win the game for the Albiceleste.
Argentina head cash Lionel Scaloni revealed that Emi Martinez was upbeat, saying he will save some penalties as he went into the shootouts. However, the two English pundits and former Premier League stars have different notions from Scaloni.
Ex-England striker Alan Shearer said: “Emi Martinez was trying to wind them up, he was kicking the ball away, he was talking to the players, he was putting as much pressure as possible on them.”
Former England defender Rio Ferdinand added: “Even his movements behind the line, he was moving, trying to catch the eye of the person striking the ball.”
While Martinez keyed into some antics to twist the penalty shootout and helped Argentina win the trophy, he definitely deserved his golden glove award.
The match may not have favored the Argentines if not for his last-minute save in the extra time. He denied Kolo Muani a last-minute one-on-one chance with an astonishing save, spreading himself out to block Muani’s strike.
Emiliano Martinez made his debut for Argentina national team in 2021. He won Copa America in 2021 and now the 2022 World Cup.
After eight years with Premier League side Arsenal, Emiliano Martinez had struggled to make the club’s first team. He was loaned six times and made 11 Premier League appearances before his move to Aston Villa in 2020. His brilliant showing at the World Cup has put him on the radar of top European clubs, with Bayern Munich reportedly interested in signing him as a replacement for injured Manuel Neuer.
