‘It’ll be there for life’: Heartbroken France forward Randal Kolo Muani says he CAN’T get over last-gasp World Cup Final miss that could have won Les Bleus back-to-back titles, but lauds Emiliano Martinez for his save
Randal Kolo Muani admits he has not got over his miss in the dying embers of the 2022 World Cup Final, claiming the memory will ‘be there for life’.
The French forward, who was brought on in the first half by Didier Deschamps to arrest momentum off a rampaging Argentina side, had the chance to win the match for Les Bleus, after Kylian Mbappe’s hat-trick brought the 2018 champions back into the match at 3-3.
His chance came in the 126th minute, with the Eintracht Frankfurt striker going one-on-one with Emiliano Martinez, but couldn’t convert the winning goal, with the Aston Villa keeper pulling off an outstanding save to take the game to penalties.
Randal Kolo Muani’s (left) chance to win the World Cup Final was saved by Emi Martinez
The 24-year-old was heartbroken after the game and admits the moment will ‘be there for life’
Martinez, would again be the hero, denying Kingsley Coman’s spot kick to win the tournament for Argentina, but for heartbroken Kolo Muani, his missed chance is still very fresh in the mind.
‘I still watch it, I know it off by heart,’ the 24-year-old said to beIN Sports.
‘In my head, I said to myself – Randal, you have to shoot now. I tried to shoot towards the near post but the goalkeeper made a very good save. But there were other options.
‘I could have lobbed him, or find Kylian Mbappe [who was free on the left]. But in the moment, I didn’t see him. It’s only when you watch back that you discover the other options. It’s too late. It still sticks in my throat and it’ll be there for life.’
The forward, who made three appearances at the World Cup, scoring in France’s 2-0 semi-final win against Morocco, would later score France’s third penalty in the resulting shootout.
Despite Kylian Mbappe’s hat-trick to bring them level, France ultimately lost 4-3 on penalties
Martinez, meanwhile, would become the hero for Argentina and, in the days following the final, got a tattoo of the trophy on the same leg that he used to save Kolo Muani’s shot.
Despite making making lewd gestures with the trophy following the match, the Villa keeper lauded his teammates after the final whistle saying: ‘It’s a moment that I always have to give to my teammates, they scored three goals against me and it hurt, but then I did everything right.
‘It was a game of suffering, just two efforts against us and they drew level with us. One thing we said was that it was our destiny to suffer, we got 3-2 ahead again, and then they gave another penalty against us.’
Martinez (left) would go on to be the hero for Argentina securing them a 4-3 win on penalties
He would go on to save Kingsley Coman’s (right) penalty to give Argentina the win in Qatar
But he has since been criticised by many for his lewd celebrations after the final whistle
On the penalty shootout, he said: ‘Then I did my thing, what I dreamed of, there could not be a World Cup that I have dreamed of so much.’
Since the tournament, Martinez has returned to play in three games for Villa, but could be in some hot water with FIFA, who announced earlier this month that they would be launching an investigation into his antics after the final whistle.
The International Football Association Board are also looking to try and clamp down gamesmanship from goalkeepers who attempt to put off penalty takers, after the 30-year-old’s actions in the final.
