France’s Hugo Lloris had the chance to become the captain who won two consecutive World Cups. However, that dream was not fulfilled by losing the tiebreaker against Argentina in the final. Then on Monday (January 9) the goalkeeper who played in Tottenham announced his retirement from the national team. He also talked about the behavior of the opponent goalkeeper Amy Martinez in the World Cup final.
France’s World Cup winning goalkeeper Hugo Lloris is not willing to compromise with his personality.
France captain Hugo Lloris will be regarded as one of the greatest goalkeepers of his time. Achievements in 16-year career in the national team are not less. He may never have caught the limelight of the likes of Gianluigi Buffon, Iker Casius, Manuel Neuer or Thibaut Courtois, but he is unique in his place. He is different from the rest in personality, sticking to his personality is more important to him than winning or losing in the game.
However, the achievement in the national team jersey is not less. 2018 World Cup captained France to their second title in history. Then won the UEFA Nations League in 2021. He also led the team to the finals of the 2022 Qatar World Cup. But his team lost in the tiebreaker.
That final at Lucille Stadium ended in a 3-3 draw in regulation and overtime. After that, Lloris could not stop a single shot of the Argentines when the game turned into a tiebreaker. On the other hand, Argentinian goalkeeper Emi Martinez forced to miss the shot by blocking Koeman’s shot and weakening the psychological game with Tchouameni.
There has been much debate as to whether or not Martinez’s psychological battle, constantly sledging France’s shooters in the tiebreaker, was unsportsmanlike. In the interview with the French sports daily Le’quip in which Lloris announced his retirement, the question definitely came up. If you want, Loris could do sledding like Emi?
Lloris answered in the negative. Keeping his natural personality, he said, ‘Some things are impossible for me. Making fun of myself, teasing opponents, transgressing boundaries, these don’t go with me. I am very considerate and honest person. I don’t know how to win by doing that. Although I did not like to lose like this.
Martinez has been heavily criticized for celebrating the World Cup and mocking Kylian Mbappe. France Football filed a formal complaint against him. However, Loris does not want to say anything more about this. He said, “In fact, he was very active in everything. As for the celebration, he has already heard enough, and there is no need to say more. He used every trick to destabilize us during the shootout.’
Lloris made his debut in the French national team in 2008. After that, this goalkeeper of the English Premier League club Tottenham took the record of playing the most matches in the blues jersey. He has played 145 matches in the national team jersey.
