Argentina suffered a tough defeat to Spain in the World Cup final on Sunday, but first-choice keeper Emi Martinez has admitted he is currently considering his future with the national team.
Emi Martinez hints that he is considering retiring from international football (Image: Juan Mavromata/AFP)
Emi Martinez has revealed he is considering his international future following Argentina’s defeat in the World Cup final, saying he needs to decide whether now is the “time to step back”.
The Aston Villa goalkeeper was a colossus in Argentina’s epic penalty shootout win over France in Qatar four years ago, and he also kept Spain at bay until extra time on Sunday. In the end, Ferran Torres defeated Martínez, denying Argentina’s chance to make history by winning back-to-back World Cups.
Martinez is the latest Argentina star to send a message to supporters on social media after the heartbreaking defeat.
And the 33-year-old, who has won 67 caps for his country, suggested Sunday’s game in New Jersey could be his last international appearance.
“I dreamed of winning it again. I dreamed of taking it back to Argentina and making history again,” Martinez wrote in an Instagram post.
“To tell you the truth, this pain is hard to explain. There’s a lot to reflect on, how to move forward, and whether it’s time to step back.
“I’m really sorry. I really tried my best to help my country and my teammates.”
Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandes was shown a red card just before the end of regulation time, leaving Argentina and Martinez in a difficult game. They eventually succumbed to Spanish pressure in extra time, but were on the back foot throughout the game and did not have a shot on goal until the 116th minute.
Martinez made a crucial penalty save against France and helped Argentina win the 2022 World Cup (Image: Photo by Marvin Ibo Guengoer – GES Sportfoto/Getty Images)
Argentina’s frustration boiled over after the match, with ugly scenes ensuing as Nahuel Molina and Leandro Paredes verbally abused their opponents.
Their actions were condemned by Wayne Rooney, who claimed that their actions in previous matches made their poor reaction unsurprising. A BBC critic said: “Does that surprise you? I’m not surprised. We’ve seen things like this in Argentina before.”
“That’s not the reaction you want. We saw some of the reaction after we eliminated England in the last round. It’s really sad. When you lose a football match, you walk away gracefully. I really feel sorry for their attitude.”
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