Argentina were made to suffer before landing their first World Cup title in 36 years, having twice squandered a lead, including in extra-time before edging past defending champions France 4-2 on penalties in the final on Sunday.
“It was a game where we suffered,” Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez said, who saved one penalty in the shootout on Sunday but had also saved two more spot kicks in their quarterfinal against Netherlands.
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“Two crappy shots and they [France] levelled. They give them another penalty, they scored. Thank God later I did my thing, what I dreamed of.”
It was a dramatic final with Argentina first squandering a two-goal lead in regular time and then going back in front in extra-time with Lionel Messi‘s second goal before Kylian Mbappe completed his hat-trick to level 3-3 in the 118th minute with a second penalty that forced the shootout.
“There could not have been a World Cup that I have dreamed of like this. I was calm during the penalties,” Martinez said.
