Ubaldo Fillol on Dibu Martínez’s last save against France: ‘It wasn’t a coincidence’

Ubaldo Matildo Fillol was the first world champion goalkeeper with the Argentina national team. His saves at the 1978 World Cup have gone down in history, especially those made in the final at the Monumental against the Netherlands. Forty-four years later, Emiliano Martínez starred in a film similar to those of Duck in the last minute of extra time in the final against France in Qatar 2022.

Fillol, in a live Instagram, analyzed the play that could have changed the course of history: the save by the Mar del Plata goalkeeper against Randal Kolo Muani, which would have meant a 4-3 draw for France and, surely, the defeat of ‘Argentina .

“It didn’t hit the foot I drew Martinez. I’ll give you a technical explanation. Dibu never turned his face or closed his eyes, which is what most goalkeepers do locally or internationally.. I was watching what the Frenchman was doing. Spectacular,” commented Fillol.

In this sense, Fillol compared Martínez’s great save to one of his in the 1978 final at the Monumental. That day he had two spectacular covers: one for Johnny Rep and the other for Robert Rensenbrink, at the end of the PT. In the latter, the output of the file Duck is very similar to that of I drew against France and the result was the same.

“There was the Duck even looking and kicking the ball almost inside the arc. It’s not a coincidence, it’s not that it hit him. I was watching what the French were doing, which helps a lot to make a movement with the foot or with the hand. If you close your eyes, you’re out of the game,” he told her.

Finally, Fillol closed with a piece of advice to all the kids who dream of being goalkeepers: “I explain this game because I apply it in teaching. One of the things I apply is that: do not turn your face and do not close your eyes”. Total crack.