The decision in the Copa semifinals was accompanied by many emotions. Argentina and Colombia did not hold back verbally.
Goalkeeper Emilano Martinez was instrumental in Argentina’s Copa America final with three saved penalties in the semifinals against Colombia. In the penalty shootout, he annoyed Yerry Mina before his missed shot with a trash talk that was clearly audible via the external microphones.
“You’re nervous, aren’t you? I know you’re nervous. I know where you’re shooting. Watch me eat you up,” Martinez said. Then the 28-year-old Aston Villa goalkeeper dived into the left corner and parried Mina’s attempt from eleven meters.
Messi: “How about a dance now?”
Subsequently, Mina’s ex-team-mate at FC Barcelona, Lionel Messi, made fun of the 26-year-old. “How about a dance now?” Messi is said to have called out to Mina.
Background: The defender of Everton FC had already played on penalties in the Copa quarter-finals against Uruguay, had scored there and then danced and cheered excessively, although his goal had not yet brought the decision.
Mina’s miss against Argentina did not mean the end for Colombia either. Martinez sealed this with his third save in the shootout against Edwin Cardona. The goalkeeper was then showered with praise from Messi.
Messi in the dream final against Neymar and the title plague since 1993
“Dibu (Martinez’s nickname, editor’s note), without words! You deserve it, you beast,” wrote Messi Instagram and called it a “phenomenon”. In the dream final of the Copa America in the night from Saturday to Sunday (2 a.m.), Argentina and Messi will meet arch-rivals from Brazil for PSG superstar Neymar.
Then the title epidemic of the Albiceleste should finally end. Argentina lost the final of the 2007, 2015 and 2016 Copa tournaments. In their last triumph in 1993, Argentina also eliminated Colombia on penalties in the semifinals.
I have been working in the news industry for over 6 years, first as a reporter and now as an editor. I have covered politics extensively, and my work has appeared in major newspapers and online news outlets around the world. In addition to my writing, I also contribute regularly to 24 Hours World.
