Emiliano Martinez brutally trolls Brazil during Argentina win but leaves his manager fuming
Argentina players joined fans in singing ‘A minute of silence for Brazil who are dead’.
Argentina celebrated a historic victory over Brazil to seal their place in next summer’s World Cup with Emiliano Martinez again taking centre stage during his nation’s latest triumph.
The world champions eased to a crushing 4-1 victory over Brazil in Buenos Aires in the early hours of Wednesday morning, dominating their rivals without Lionel Messi or Lautaro Martinez on the pitch.
Julian Alvarez and Enzo Fernandez had the hosts 2-0 in front inside 12 minutes. Matheus Cunha pulled one back midway through the first half but goas from Alexis Mac Allister and Giuliano Simeone had the hosts cruising.
With over 10 minutes of the second-half still remaining, goalkeeper Martinez, with Argentina colours dyed into his hair, decided to indulge the home crowd.
Receiving the ball back in his own box, the Aston Villa goalkeeper flicked the ball up to knock a few kick-ups about in front of the beaten enemy, roared on by baying Argentina fans.
While the crowd lapped it up, Argentina head coach Lionel Scaloni was not so enthused and immediately called for Martinez to stop from the dugout, shaking his finger in disapproval.
The former Arsenal shot stopper, whose wild World Cup-winning celebrations made headlines around the world, was involved in another of the game’s many flashpoints.
‘Dibu’ appeared to shove Raphinha as he jogged past the Brazil forward with Leandro Parades giving him a light tap on the cheek.
A furious Raphinha pushed back with Tottenham defender Cristian Romero briefly playing peacemaker before the Barcelona star was held back and pulled away by 18-year-old teammate Endrick.
Real Madrid winger Rodrygo also clashed with Parades meanwhile with the Argentine midfielder brutally putting his rival down by reminding him: ‘I have two Copa Americas and one World Cup, you have zero. Zero’.
Argentina fans serenaded their players throughout the chaos with the team joining them after the final whistle with a chant of ‘A minute of silence for Brazil who are dead’.
‘It’s a team victory,’ Scaloni said post-match. ‘We played as a team, and that’s why we minimised Brazil. It’s the only way to beat these players.
‘I think we’ve had great matches, a lot of good things in other matches, and the important thing is to know what to do in each one. Today the guys interpreted it very well.
‘There will be games where we’ll struggle, it will be difficult for us. The important thing is to compete, not give up, and show that we’re capable of any task.
‘If a bad moment comes, know how to get through it; that’s what football is all about. Let’s hope things continue like this, and if things go wrong, get back up. Let people enjoy this moment knowing that it won’t always be like this. I hope it lasts as long as possible.’
The result means Brazil still have some work to do in securing their place in next summer’s World Cup having now won just one of their last four games.
‘What we did here today can’t happen again,’ Brazil captain Marquinhos Brazilian TV Globo.
‘It’s hard to talk about it in the heat of the moment… It’s embarrassing.
‘We started the game very badly, far below what we could do and they’re on a great run of confidence. They knew how to play smart. I’m sorry for our fans.’
