Emiliano Martínez spoke about the Copa America final, reaching four finals with Argentina and penalty kicks.

Martínez was at the Argentina national team press conference on Saturday with coach Lionel Scaloni. Martínez spoke about the Copa America final and reaching four finals with Argentina. Here is what he had to say:

“I feel more complete and more comfortable in the National Team goal. I try to correct every goal I get scored on and I try to improve day by day.

“We have to play fútbol. Now I think it’s 120, we have more minutes to play fútbol.

“We have the same illusion, it will be our fourth final and we are excited as if it were the first, with the heart and the desire to play.

“Finals are played, they are about winning. Whoever plays was going to be difficult. Sometimes heart is a big part of a final, because plans don’t always go the way you think they will.

“Being champion does not mean not being motivated, on the contrary, I am even more motivated today than in the last Copa America. I think it’s the same for all my teammates.

“If you tell me that I’m going to play my fourth final at this age, the truth is that I would never have planned it, it cost me a lot.

“Since I was 12 years old I went to the Rojo’s boarding house and at 16/17 I went to England for a dream. It cost me a lot, more than I expected. Sometimes fútbol gives you those paths and I wouldn’t change my career at all. Today I am the goalkeeper I am thanks to that.

“I am very excited to play this final as if it were the first one, this will be the first one with people. I have 20/30 family members in the stands that gives me a plus, also my baby, who wasn’t there the previous Copa América and I missed the birth. That gives me more strength than anyone else.

“When you play 11 against 11 in 38 degrees of heat they are all complicated matches. Ecuador deserved at least a draw and Canada gave us a tough game. They are all very different and very physical.”

About penalty kicks:

“For me, penalty kicks are 100% luck. You can study a lot, but not all penalties are the same. I have stopped some that were totally opposite to what I had studied.”

Lionel Messi commented on the Argentina national team’s desire and competitiveness.

Messi spoke in an interview with DSports Argentina about his fitness, his future and Emiliano Martínez being with the team. In the same interview, Messi commented on the Argentina national team. Here is what he had to say:

“I hope the group does not lose the desire to keep winning, competing and transmitting to those who come after, the same message.

“For me, the key is to have a good group. From there, the achievements come.

“We stand out for the competitiveness we have in every game. We can play well or badly, but this team competes. We compete with anyone.”

Lionel Messi spoke about his fitness, his future and Emiliano Martínez.

Messi scored for Argentina in their 2-0 win vs. Canada in the semi finals of the Copa America and spoke about his fitness. Speaking in an interview with DSports Argentina, here is what he had to say:

“With Canada in the first game, I felt very good physically. With Chile, I had the adductor issue and didn’t play comfortably. With Ecuador, I made it just in time too. I was fine from the injury but I had it in my head that something was wrong.

“In the last game, I already lost the fear and I think in these past days and in the final, I will feel better.”

In regards to his future:

“Right now, I don’t like to think beyond, I am enjoying the day to day and what we are achieving.”

He also spoke about Emiliano Martínez:

“In penalty kicks, having Dibu is not luck anymore. You know that he will save one or two and that is a great advantage.”

Argentina will wear the home shirt with white shorts in the Copa America final.

The Argentina national team will be wearing their traditional home shirt with white shorts and white socks against Colombia in the Copa America final on Sunday. Emiliano Martínez will be in all green.

Raphael Claus of Brazil will referee the Copa America final.

Argentina vs. Colombia in the Copa America final will have a Brazilian referee. It was announced that Raphael Claus will officiate Sunday’s game.

He was the referee for Argentina’s 1-0 win vs. Colombia in the South American World Cup qualifiers. Claus was also the referee for Mexico vs. Venezuela at this Copa America.