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EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) \u2014 Emiliano Martinez remained calm in goal despite impatience and frustration building among his frenetic Argentina teammates. Playing with a broken finger, he broke his finger world cup<\/span> Last record of save.<\/p>\nAfter Argentina’s relentless attack forced La Albiceleste into a red card and they were down by one in extra time, it was too much for the star goalkeeper.<\/p>\n
spanish Ferran Torres<\/span> He beat Martinez and smashed the ball in to score his first goal of the tournament. world cup<\/span> He made it 1-0 in the 106th minute and helped his team beat Lionel Messi and Argentina on Sunday to win their first title since 2010.<\/p>\nMartinez, the 2022 World Cup-winning keeper, once again put his imposing 6-foot-5-inch frame to use, making a record 11 saves to keep Argentina’s bid for a second consecutive World Cup title alive. <\/p>\n
His teammates spent most of the match chasing Spain on the pitch. Argentina’s combative style has helped them bounce back from behind throughout the tournament, but it backfired on Sunday.<\/p>\n
The first sign of trouble came when Leandro Paredes was almost given two yellow cards in one play. Officials missed his shove of Rodri from behind in the 52nd minute, but he was carded for shoving Dani Olmo in the ensuing heated confrontation.<\/p>\n
Enzo Fernandes’ frustration turned out to be even more costly. He contested a possible foul call in the 82nd minute and received his first yellow card. Eleven minutes later, he was sent off again with a yellow card for reckless play that caused Spain national team defender Pau Kvarsi to cartwheel.<\/p>\n
With even less help in front of him, Martinez was finally unable to fend off the onslaught.<\/p>\n
Spain continued to attack, continued to take shots, and when they broke through on goal, wild celebrations erupted in the stands as fans danced, hugged and waved flags before the final coronation.<\/p>\n
After the match, the situation between the teams briefly became tense, with Paredes taking center stage, pushing aside Eric Garcia and Gabi at various points. Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni was stopped by a Spanish player as he tried to yell at someone, while Nicolas Otamendi exchanged words with several Spanish players, including Rodri.<\/p>\n
‘Dib’ energizes Argentina with best performance ever<\/h2>\n
Mart\u00ednez, nicknamed “Dib” because of his resemblance to an Argentine cartoon character, became a national hero with his spectacular save to deny Randal Colo Muani a goal in the final minute. Final vs France<\/span> in qatar 2022<\/span>. Even with his hand injury, Martinez may have played better in this year’s tournament.<\/p>\nSpain coach Luis de la Fuente said: “We should have ended the game sooner. We had a lot of chances.” “But Dib was exceptional. It was because of Dib’s saves. This shows that winning is very difficult.”<\/p>\n
Given his stoppage in the 92nd minute, momentum could have shifted to Argentina. <\/p>\n
He made a two-handed save from near the top of the box on La Roja’s Nico Williams’ line drive in stoppage time in the second half, keeping the game scoreless. <\/p>\n
Fernandes was sent off a minute later.<\/p>\n
Martinez starred again on Sunday, just as he did in 2022.<\/p>\n
Spain took a number of corner kicks before Rodrigo de Paul headed the ball into the net, but Martinez denied it in the 67th minute. <\/p>\n
It was his 10th save of the match, denying Lamine Yamal’s free kick in extra time, but the teenager covered his mouth in shock as he missed it. <\/p>\n
Martinez broke a finger on his right hand in May against Aston Villa in the Europa League. He said he delayed the surgery to get into the net, and surely Argentina would have appreciated this decision.<\/p>\n
Mart\u00ednez started every match at the World Cup and kept two clean sheets, once in Argentina’s 3-0 win over Algeria and in the group stage win over Austria 2-0.<\/p>\n
While Messi took most of the credit, Martinez carried Argentina to Spain’s 20th goal of the match, bringing them to the brink of winning their second consecutive World Cup. <\/p>\n
___<\/p>\n
See more of AP’s World Cup coverage here<\/span><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
\n
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