Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez has hit back at suggestions that the defending champions enjoyed an easy route to the World Cup final. Martínez insisted that the team had no control over their opponents.
Martínez’s comments underscore the tournament's unpredictability and have sparked debate among fans and pundits about the relative difficulty of each side’s journey to the showpiece match.
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In comments, Martínez addressed critics who claimed Argentina faced a favourable draw. He said:
“People saying we had an easy path to the final? We didn’t choose our opponents.”
The Argentine goalkeeper added:
“We had to face Portugal in the quarter-finals, but Colombia dominated against Portugal. Switzerland beat Colombia, and we ended up playing Switzerland.”
The remarks come ahead of Sunday’s final against Spain in New Jersey, where Argentina will aim to retain the title won in 2022. The knockout bracket was shaped by several upsets, including Colombia’s elimination of Portugal and Switzerland’s subsequent victory over Colombia on penalties.
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