Broken finger at Villa Park forces Emi Martinez’s World Cup gamble

In the cramped locker room of Villa Park, Argentine goalkeeper Emi Martinez felt a sharp pain as a broken finger reminded him of the injury that once redirected his career, now threatening his defence of the World Cup title as he prepared for the Europa League final against Freiburg. That earlier injury had propelled Emiliano Martinez from a perennial deputy to a World Cup winner. Approaching his 28th birthday, he had logged fewer than 100 senior appearances and endured four loan spells in the English Championship, a period that stalled his progress before it accelerated. When Bernd Leno went down against Brighton, Martinez was thrust into Arsenal’s starting line‑up. A month later he celebrated an FA Cup triumph, confirming his arrival at the top level of English football. After that success he signed for Aston Villa two months later, and the following summer earned his Argentina debut. A month after his first cap, Argentina captured the Copa America for the first time in 28 years, a milestone that foreshadowed greater triumphs. The following year Argentina lifted the World Cup for the first time in 36 years, and Martinez stood on the brink of becoming the first goalkeeper since Gilmar in 1962 to start two World Cup final victories. That prospect was jeopardised by the broken finger he suffered before the Europa League final.

Spain vs Argentina: battle for World Cup title

Martinez broke a finger in the warm‑up before Villa’s Europa League final defeat of Freiburg. Doctors were united in their verdict: “I knew my hand was going to be hurting,” he said, adding that specialists in England and the United States told him surgery was unavoidable. Lionel Scaloni offered crucial reassurance, sending a message that read: “I don’t mind about your condition, you will be in the team.” Martinez recalled that this support mattered more to him than even saving a penalty. He later admitted, “I love training,” but was barred from sessions until after Argentina’s 3‑2 win over Egypt in the last‑16. Following that victory he finally returned to the training ground.

England survives French comeback to claim bronze in World Cup final

In the knockout stages Martinez let in six goals, conceding twice to Cape Verde and Egypt and once each to Switzerland and England, while Spain’s Unai Simon had let in only one. Despite the tally, his performances helped Argentina progress. He saved Virgil van Dijk and Steven Berghuis in the quarter‑final shootout against the Netherlands and denied Kingsley Coman in the final shootout against France. PA reported that he could become a two‑time world champion on Sunday.