ⓒ JoongAng Ilbo / JoongAng Ilbo Japanese version2022.12.20 07:39
“Penalty shootout hero”.
On the 19th, US ESPN introduced goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez (30, Aston Villa), who contributed to Argentina’s Qatar World Cup victory with a divine save. The Argentina national team won the penalty shootout 4-2 following drawing 3-3 until extra time with the French national team in the final, and won the World Cup trophy for the first time in 36 years.
In the penalty shootout, Martinez saved France’s second player, Kingsley Coman, from making a mistake, and then allowed the third player, Aurelian Chuameni, to make a mistake, leading Argentina to victory. “I just did what I was supposed to do. I didn’t get upset regarding the penalty shootout,” Martinez said at the ceremony following receiving the Golden Glove, which is awarded to the best goalkeeper.
British Football London evaluated, “Martinez’s psychological warfare caught the eye in the penalty shootout.” Martinez threw the ball in his hand far to the right of the penalty box when Chuameni came out as kicker. It was a kind of provocation. GKs generally pass the ball to the next kicker. Chuameni picked up the ball that rolled far away with a dumbfounded look on his face. I wasted 19 seconds in this process.
The British BBC analyzed, “Martinez made an unexpected move to Chuameni, who was under a lot of pressure. Martinez demoralized the French team by dancing when Chuameni missed a kick. Football London reported, “Martinez’s psychological warfare worked.”
However, Martinez came under fire for making a crude gesture at the awards ceremony. He held the trophy to his own lower abdomen. Spain Marca criticized Martinez’s actions, saying, “The actions of the tournament should have made the tournament officials uncomfortable.” American Fox and British BBC also responded, “Oh, no.”