The day after Dibu Martínez’s miraculous parade: the tender anecdote of his son, a very Argentinian barbecue and the sunset in the desert

Those arms that on Saturday were the most meditated on by the fans of the Argentine national team for the miraculous last-gasp save against Australia they have an owner. Even minutes after qualifying for the quarterfinals of the World Cup in Qatar, this question can be answered: holythe son of Emiliano ‘Dibu’ Martinezhe entered the playing field of the Ahmad Bin Ali stadium to be lifted up by his father, whom he had seen a few minutes earlier for the first time on a field representing his country.

His wife revealed it with a tender post loved rangeknown as ‘Mandinha’. “Today was a very special day for our Santi. It was the first time he saw his father play live for the Argentina national team, and he cried with the first goal because he was scared, ah. He fell asleep at 70, huh And he woke up with his father’s parade! What a match we had! Let’s go Argentina! Step by step we arrived”she wrote in an Instagram story, with a photo of “Dibu” and her son in her arms.

This Sunday, the players had their first day off since landing in Doha and the Mar del Plata goalkeeper was one of those who took the opportunity to leave concentration and join his family.

As was seen on social networks, there was a very Argentinian barbecue to share with his father, brother and other relatives who had come to the Arab country.

Afterwards, the action continued with a sunset in the middle of the desert and some beautiful postcards with the flag that appeared on each of the fields where Argentina played in this World Cup.

A valuable statistic

If you don’t suffer, it’s not worth it. That cliche that usually accompanies so many moments of the Argentine national team (and of life itself) was resolved this Saturday at the Ahmad Bin Ali stadium, when with the score 2-1, goalkeeper Emiliano ‘Dibu’ Martínez appeared in his full glory with a miraculous save in a face to face inside the small area, in the last play of the match.

The man from Mar del Plata, who changed his look for this second phase of the competition based on a bet with Germán Pezzella, threw himself forward with his whole body to reduce the youngster’s shot garang kuolwho had left the ball alone after a couple of crosses in the area and turned away Nicholas Tagliafico.

The 30-year-old goalkeeper has just eight goals conceded in his 23 matches with the Argentina national team. In this World Cup, in fact, they have scored very few shots: two (which were goals) against Saudi Arabia; one (free kick) against Mexico; zero in the win against Poland; and only one, that last, this Saturday against Australia.

“Out of nowhere they scored a goal for us, it was something we didn’t expect, it was a bucket of cold water. We had four or five chances to convert. The big shot came, Licha put it in the bank, but I knew that I had to help them, I tried to do the best I could”confided the Aston Villa player from England.

“Today we took a small step forward as a team. I love the Argentine people, every time I go out on the pitch I think I dedicate that save to all of them,” he said.

And on the path that remains for the Argentine national team in search of the third title in its history: “The Netherlands are a great rival, they are a national team with much more technical qualities. Now we are four, we are going to seven, you have to dream big, to always”.