World Cup 2022 in Qatar - Emiliano Martinez slammed for 'pretty despicable' antics in final after heroics
:focal(178x132:180x130)/origin-imgresizer.eurosport.com/2023/04/03/3673848-74785904-310-310.jpg)
Updated 19/12/2022 at 14:23 GMT
He was either portrayed as the heroic shot-stopper or the unsportsmanlike villain, depending on your perspective and loyalty. There was no doubt, however, that Emiliano Martinez helped inspire Argentina to their historic third World Cup title in the 2022 final in Qatar as he produced heroics both through the match and also in the decisive penalty shootout.
Joyful Argentina fans and downbeat France supporters leave Lusail Stadium
Emiliano Martinez has been blasted for his "pretty despicable" antics in the World Cup 2022 final after his heroics helped Argentina triumph over France.
Chris Sutton was certainly not impressed by Martinez's behaviour as he played very effective mind games with some of the France players, only belatedly receiving a yellow card after some prolonged time-wasting.
It was certainly unsporting behaviour as the Aston Villa star held onto the ball instead of throwing it to the penalty taker, then proceeded to even hurl the ball away to make Aurelien Tchouameni go and retrieve it, only adding to the nerves and tension.
While Martinez's tricks clearly seemed to work as France lost their composure in the penalty shootout to finish as runners-up, Sutton told the 'World Cup Confidential' vodcast that he "didn't like that at all".
“I wasn’t overly enamoured with Martinez’s antics in the shootout," Sutton told the Daily Mail.
“I thought it was a pretty despicable thing to do [throwing the ball away]. I can understand the mind games and heat of the moment you do whatever it takes.
“But I thought that was totally unnecessary. If you’re Tchouameni walking past Martinez [in the guard of honour] you probably feel like biffing him one.
/origin-imgresizer.eurosport.com/2022/12/18/3510839-71563953-2560-1440.jpg)
'It was epic!' - Expert breakdown of thrilling World Cup final as Argentina triumph over France
“I didn’t like that at all but I can understand Martinez in that moment trying to win a World Cup.
“But he didn’t just chuck it a couple of yards away, he launched it 15, 20 yards away. I really felt for Tchouameni in that moment.
“That wasn’t on. It would have been interesting if Martinez had been booked for that because he got one on the next penalty.”
/origin-imgresizer.eurosport.com/2022/12/18/3510874-71564648-2560-1440.jpg)
Emiliano Martínez (Argentina) - FIFA World Cup 2022
Image credit: Getty Images
We asked Eurosport France's Maxime Dupuis what his view of the situation was and he was perhaps surprisingly accepting of the behaviour of the Argentine goalkeeper in denying Didier Deschamps' side.
"He did what a goalkeeper has to do," he said. "Not the most classy goalkeeper ever but ... he did his job."
Scan me
Share this article