International Football
Dibu Martínez reveals what he said to Messi and his teammates before the penalties against Ecuador
Emiliano Martínez became a hero by saving two penalties against Ecuador to help the Albiceleste qualify for the semi-finals of the 2024 Copa América.
Emiliano Martinez saved two penalties in a shootout against Ecuador. (Photo Prensa Libre: AFP)
Emiliano Martínez, the Argentine hero who saved two penalties against Ecuador to help La Albiceleste qualify for the Copa América semi-finals on Thursday, said at the end of the match that he was not ready to go home.
“I wasn’t ready to go home“I told my teammates, my family, my children: ‘Dad is not going home’, and I did not go,” said the Argentine goalkeeper at the end of the match.
The ‘Dibu’ kept a clean sheet until Ecuadorian Kevin Rodríguez’s goal in the 91st minute tied the score at 1-1 and sent the match to penalties.
“The truth is that it was a very difficult match. We knew that it was one of the toughest rivals we could face, Ecuador is a young team that presses well and always fights”.
Martinez also referred to the state of the field at Houston’s NRG Stadium: “The field was very dry and it was a bit difficult for us… We almost lost it but we are here. Today I had to take the team back because I wasn’t ready to go home.“.
“I get a bit carried away by the crowd,” he confessed. “I had all the Argentines here, my family nearby. So these are special moments,” he said emotionally.
Martínez lamented the state of the stadium’s pitch, saying that “you couldn’t play very well, the ball controls were very bad, risky, I even broke a shoe because of the bad grass.”
“We didn’t give people the game they wanted to see, it was hard for us, but we’re happy to continue,” said Martinez.
Argentina will face the winner of Friday’s match between Venezuela and Canada in Arlington, Texas, in the semi-finals on Tuesday in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
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