March 3 It has been two and a half months since Argentina won the World Cup, but for
Emiliano Martinez still remembers his key save in the final against France.
In an interview with TYC Sports, Martinez reflected on his save of Mouani’s shot at the World Cup.
Martinez said: “On social media, people are very concerned about that save. When some kids come to me for autographs, the first thing they ask me is that save. It’s amazing.”
“I didn’t realize the value of that save because everything happened so quickly. I remember we fought back quickly and Lautaro’s header was our last chance to win the game. Unless we win the final, otherwise.
I don’t think my save was that important, that was my first thought.”
“It was a fast attack and a less glamorous one. The French keeper kicked the ball wide and Otamendi did a good job of clearing it with a header. When Otamendi made a pre-judgment, the French centre-half got the ball.
, and passed the ball into the space that we defended. Otamendi was already high because he had made a header clearance and the ball was perfectly between him and Pezera.”
“Mouani got his shot from a little bit of an angle and I thought to myself: ‘Okay, I’ll block his angle slowly, I’m not in a hurry, otherwise he’ll shoot the ball into the top corner. I have to
Give him an angle so the last thing he sees is the near post. Then I spread my hands and stretch my legs and hope his shot hits me.’”
“I hope Mouani’s shot will hit me in the face, I don’t care where I get hit in my body. Day by day, such a save will touch you deeply. Sometimes such a shot will go in,
Sometimes that’s not the case. It’s really beautiful in a World Cup final when things go according to your plan!”
(two strange)