Copa America 2024: ‘I wasn’t ready to go home,’ says Martinez, Argentina’s penalty shootout hero

Emi Martinez seized the chance to be Argentina’s saviour in their Copa America penalty shootout win over Ecuador on Thursday as the goalkeeper made two key saves to lift his team off the pitch after captain Lionel Messi missed the first penalty.

After the match ended 1-1, Martinez’s saves on Angel Mena and Alan Minda put Ecuador on the defensive and set the stage for defending champions Argentina to reach the semi-finals.

Martinez had thrilled the crowd earlier in the quarter-final when Ecuador captain Enner Valencia missed a penalty, and the 31-year-old said he made it clear to his team-mates before the penalty shootout that defeat was not an option.

“I told the boys I wasn’t ready to go home. They weren’t ready either,” Martinez added after being named Player of the Match.

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“We are world and (South) American champions, this team deserved to continue.

“I got a little carried away by the crowd because there were the Argentines here and also my family nearby.

“We didn’t play the game people wanted to see, but in the end we won.”

Martinez had every reason to be confident going into the penalty shootout.

The goalkeeper has now won all four titles he has appeared in with Argentina, including the 2022 World Cup final where they beat France.

“I work for it, I train 500 times a day,” Martinez added.

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“I try to be at my best for the national team because the country deserves it, the people who spend their money to come and see us.”

Rodrigo De Paul said his team-mate deserved the plaudits after another outstanding performance in a penalty shootout.

“The truth is that what he does is crazy, he deserves it. He loves wearing these colors,” De Paul said.

“He gives us a lot of security and peace of mind. We try to do the same for him, but in those important moments he is always there.”

Argentina will face either Canada or Venezuela in the semi-finals and will attempt to win a record 16th Copa title.