Martinez said he was reacting to boos from the French crowd (Picture: Getty)
Louis Saha has warned Emiliano Martinez has overshadowed his accomplishments after some of his bizarre celebrations following Argentina’s win over France in the World Cup final.
The Aston Villa goalkeeper produced a sublime save in the final minutes of extra-time on Sunday as a engrossing finale went all the way to penalties after a 3-3 draw.
The 30-year-old saved Kingsley Coman’s spot-kick and did enough to put off Aurelien Tchouameni, who fired wide, allowing Gonzalo Montiel to step up and score the winner for La Albiceleste.
Having also been Argentina’s saviour in a quarter-final shoot-out victory over Netherlands, Martinez was awarded the competition’s Golden Glove award for best goalkeeper.
After accepting the award on stage, the former Arsenal shot stopper lowered the trophy to his groin and thrust it towards the crowd, later explaining: ‘I did it because the French booed me. Pride does not work with me.’
Despite Martinez’s heroics, former Manchester United and France striker Saha was not impressed with the ‘awkward’ moment on stage, insisting his ‘sad’ actions will now detract from his contribution in goal.
‘Emiliano Martínez’s antics are going to be remembered for a long time and that’s a sad thing,’ Saha told Metro.co.uk on behalf of Paddy Power.
Martinez also celebrated after keeping out Coman’s penalty (Picture: Getty)
‘He had a great tournament, and he didn’t need to do it. It was more about his adrenaline and some people do things without thinking and just instinctively do something they’ll regret.
‘I haven’t seen or heard any apology from him for his actions but it’s sad because the conversation takes away from the great World Cup he had.
‘It doesn’t help anything, and I don’t know what he was trying to say by doing it – it was really quite awkward.
‘It’s overshadowed what he’s accomplished, and people are going to be talking about that, rather than his performance.’
Martinez was seen consoling Kylian Mbappe following the draining contest, in which the Paris Saint-Germain star scored a stunning hat-trick that sealed him winning the Golden Boot, before stepping up again to score in the shoot-out.
But in one video shared on social media during the wild dressing room celebrations, Martinez was seen asking his team-mates for a ‘minute’s silence’ for Mbappe before the players continue to revel in their first World Cup triumph since 1986.
MORE : World Cup winner Emiliano Martinez explains why he held Golden Glove in lewd way towards French fans
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The Argentina goalkeeper made a lewd gesture with the Golden Glove trophy.
