Emiliano Martinez and Argentina
Friday before the World Cup final
Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez admitted he has been playing through daily pain in his right hand throughout the World Cup. Specialists had advised surgery after he fractured his ring finger before Aston Villa’s Europa League final.
Martinez avoided an operation so he could play in the tournament and trained separately during the group stage. He has still started every Argentina match and is now set to face Spain in his second straight World Cup final.