Emiliano ‘Dibu’ Martinez, the goalie for the Argentine national team, made waves when he addressed Raphinha’s audacious pre-game assertions.  Before their Copa America matchup, the Barcelona player had heightened tension by declaring, “We will give them a beating.”  Definitely.  Let’s slap them about.  Both on and off the field, if required.  In an interview with Romario TV, he said, “I’ll mess with them, and they should be prepared for it.”

 On the field, though, Raphinha’s remarks had a disastrous effect.  Raphinha and his colleagues were reminded of the value of humility by the Argentine team’s spectacular 4-1 triumph.  The Argentine players were undoubtedly aware of his remarks and reacted strongly to them during the match and in the press.

Leandro Paredes responded immediately, saying, “On the field, we let our performance speak for itself.  In the World Cup, we proved that, and today was no exception.  We discussed it briefly when his remarks went viral in our WhatsApp group, but when the game plays out as it did, there’s no need for extra conversation.”

Moreover, colleagues Rodrigo De Paul and Julian Alvarez also chipped in with their opinions addressed at Raphinha.  “He brings his flair,” Alvarez said concisely, “but we approached the game with humility and ended up outclassing them.”  “It’s all just talk,” De Paul said, downplaying the situation.  Anything that occurs on the field remains on the field.  Everyone has always been respected by us, but we have frequently had that respect questioned in return.  We have been the world’s top team for the last five or six years.

Emiliano Martinez, the two-time Copa America winner and World Cup-winning goalie, added to the discussion with a direct reply: “I was taught that one should comment after the matches.  To be honest, this child needs some education.

 With a doubleheader in the World Cup qualifiers, the Argentine national team is getting ready for a hectic June.  With the knowledge that they have already guaranteed their spot in the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Mexico, and Canada, they will first go to Chile before playing Colombia at home.