dpa
Doha
Emiliano Martinez is ready to fight for World Cup glory alongside “the greatest player of all time” as Lionel Messi’s Argentina take on reigning champions France in Sunday’s mouth-watering final.
All eyes will be on Lusail Stadium as these nations bid to lift football’s most coveted trophy for a third time, with La Albiceleste looking to join the heroes of 1978 and 1986 in immortality.
France are looking to become just the third team in history to win two successive World Cups and some consider Didier Deschamps’ side favourites.
Argentina goalkeeper Martinez does not care about such opinions, though, pointing to his nation’s success at last year’s Copa America and their inspirational captain’s
quality.
“Obviously when we won in Brazil the favourite was considered to be Brazil and it happens the same right now,” the Aston Villa shot-stopper said.
“People can say that the favourites are France, but we have the great advantage to have the greatest player of all time.” Messi is playing at his fifth and final World Cup and looking to crown a glittering, medal-laden career with victory in Qatar.
“I see him very happy,” Martinez said of the Argentina skipper. “He feels very well on the pitch. I saw a great Messi in Copa America. He was an exceptional player, one of the best undoubtedly in Copa America - and in this World Cup he took a step forward compared to Copa
America.
“He’s playing very well and this gives so much energy to the whole squad because we have the greatest player. He’s excited, he is full of joy and this helps us very much.” Argentina fans have flocked to Qatar to cheer Messi in his last bid for World Cup glory - a quest that looked like it may end in a humiliating group stage exit.
Lionel Scaloni’s side opened the tournament with an embarrassing 2-1 loss to Saudi Arabia. “This is completely crazy,” Martinez said. “We lost to Saudi Arabia in the beginning of the tournament, but we maintained our excitement.
“We knew that already against Mexico it was like a final, against Poland it was the same. We also suffered against Australia, the Netherlands took us to the penalty shootout so it was a very difficult road.
“But it was clear for us that we wanted to fight. After Saudi Arabia, it was clear for us that we would defend our country, we would give it our all to play a final in this World Cup.”
Martinez only made
his international debut last year, having finally gone from fringe player at Arsenal to establish
himself as a Premier League
regular.
Oxford, Rotherham and Reading were among the temporary pitstops for Martinez, who had just completed a spell with Sheffield Wednesday when he watched the 2014 final loss to Germany .
“It is difficult not to think of how hard the road was to get here,” Martinez said .
“It is difficult not to think of how hard the road was to get here,” Martinez said.
“I was very young when I left my country and right now to have the whole country supporting me in this World Cup final, this is something crucial.”
