Forward Lautaro Martínez, world champion in Qatar 2022 with the soccer team, said this Friday afternoon that “after 36 years, bringing the Cup was the dream” of every Argentine.
The 25-year-old Italian Inter attacker described having lived “incredible, unique sensations” that for the public they can also harbor identical feelings because “With all the years it took us to bring back the Cup, I think it had to be celebrated every day at the table of each one of the Argentines.”
Martínez formulated these concepts in the framework of a press conference in Bahía Blanca, his hometown. The reception was held at the Municipal Theater, located at Alsina 425. The place was filled with people who did not hesitate to greet and offer their love to the former Racing Club player.
“Toro” Martínez was accompanied by referee Facundo Tello, who is also from Bahia and directed three games in the last Qatari World Cup.
The striker was recognized by the Liniers authorities, where he began to practice, by the Liga del Sur, by the local Racing supporters club, the National University of the South, the Deliberative Council and even the municipality of Bahía Blanca.
“Starting the World Cup the way we started was not what we wanted”, said Martínez in relation to the setback against Saudi Arabia (1-2). “But the team showed a lot of character, personality and that’s where what we all make up appeared,” he said.
About what he said to Lionel Messi after the consecration and after Gonzalo Montiel’s penalty in the definition with France, the attacker said: “We knew what this World Cup meant for Leo. Honestly, what it generates for us, within football, within of the dressing room, it is unique”, he pointed out.
“Not only the Argentines but many people from other countries, from different parts of the world wanted Argentina to be champion for him and we believe that we have given one more thing like the Copa América so that he can achieve his goal, which was what he wanted so much, what cost him so much,” he added.
When asked about how he took the execution of the decisive penalty, Martínez said that he threw himself on the grass and remained with his head bowed: “The things that brought me to that moment came upon me. The weight of my body came.”
The former Racing player recounted the moment he had to kick the penalty in the definition with the Netherlands (2-2), for the World Cup quarterfinals.
“I was very confident. I had decided to kick to the other side, but later when the referee whistled and I took the race, I decided to stop myself, I saw the goalkeeper who moved a second before, so I decided to change the stick there,” he announced.
“Luckily, he (Noppert) played for the other side and the penalty ended up inside and that is where happiness is double, because we were able to seal the pass to the semifinals,” he stressed.
The striker remarked that from the physical point of view “I was a little upset in my ankle, maybe I wasn’t playing comfortably but I did a lot to be able to be there and help my teammates from the place that touched me. Happiness was complete for me, my family and all Argentina,” he said.
Regarding his hometown, the striker stated: “I miss everything about Bahia, my club, my home, my family, my friends, my childhood, I always talked about it with my wife and if I had to pay tribute it would be to all my family, without It would be almost impossible for them to keep up with so many things that are being talked about, that are happening,” he said.
“So you don’t always win, today we have to win, enjoy, accept the praise and more than happy and grateful to all the people who give off good vibes,” he considered.
“Today we are enjoying a lot because we have remained in the history of this country and that is not going to take anyone away from us,” he added.
Regarding the learning of the National Team that leaves the Argentine people, Martínez indicated that it is necessary “to all be together, always shoot on the same side” as well as “with the difficult situations that we are experiencing in our country, that we have lived through and now also with the Covid”.
“Many families lost important things for them, relatives, we from our side, from our little corner, perhaps we always dreamed of this, as we did in the Copa América. Bringing the Cup was everyone’s dream,” he insisted.
After contact with the media, the forward moved to one of the balconies of the Municipal Theater where hundreds of neighbors who sang and shouted were waiting for him.
The attacker took the opportunity to greet them, to sing and even took the opportunity to sign several shirts of the national team that the fans brought him.
