Martinez: Argentina would have beaten Spain if World Cup final reached penalties

Emiliano Martinez says Argentina would have won their World Cup final against Spain had the match gone to a penalty shootout, despite admitting the European side deserved their victory.

The Chelsea goalkeeper was speaking about the final, which Spain won 1-0 through a Ferran Torres goal on 19 July. Martinez said he remained convinced Argentina would triumph from the spot and believed Spain’s players were equally anxious to avoid penalties.

“Even they believed that,” Martinez, known as ‘Dibu’, told Argentine journalists Gaston Edul and Esteban Edul on the Los Edul programme. “I heard them saying: ‘We have to win here. We cannot go to penalties.’

“I felt sorry and thought they had scored with the first ball of the second period of extra time. If we were not champions, it was because of that moment. I was completely certain that this was going to be my day.”

Martinez said a conversation with one of Spain’s goalkeepers after the match reinforced his view that the Spanish team had not wanted the game to be decided by a shootout.

“He said to me: ‘Thank God they won the match,’” Martinez added.

Despite his disappointment, Martinez accepted that Spain had earned the victory, saying they had “won the final well”. However, he felt more apprehension facing France in the 2022 final than he did against Luis de la Fuente’s side.

“They are very good, but I have the feeling that we would have beaten them today,” he said.

Martinez reveals World Cup injury

Martinez also disclosed that he played in the entire World Cup with a broken finger after suffering the injury during the Europa League final.

His ring finger dislocated, causing severe pain, and medical tests later confirmed the fracture and raised doubts over whether he would be able to travel to the tournament.

“When the match ended, everything went back into place, but it was very painful,” he said. “When I arrived in Birmingham, I went to hospital. They showed me the scans and told me my finger was broken. I said: ‘No, I will not be able to make it to the World Cup,’ and I started crying.”

Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni supported him, sending a message to say he would take Martinez with the squad whether he could play or not. After consulting Argentina doctors Dani and Martin Tokali, Martinez decided against surgery so he would retain the possibility of travelling and featuring.

The injury affected his training, and he was unable to work normally until before the match against Switzerland. He also recalled his concern during the match against Egypt, when Argentina came close to elimination, and said he asked Tokali to let him resume normal training for the next game.

Martinez acknowledged that delaying the operation was a major risk. He said the finger would remain affected for life and that he could no longer use his hand normally for some movements.

He is also recovering from a broken jaw that required surgery. Describing the injury as resembling a knockout blow in mixed martial arts, he said: “I passed out and do not remember anything. They took an X-ray at the hospital, and I lost 3 teeth.”

Martinez’s aim is to return during the next international break.

“I need to play for Argentina, and my intention is to return during the international break,” he said.