‘I just can’t do that’: Hugo Lloris suggests £17m player Tottenham want to sign has made a fool of himself

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Tottenham Hotspur goalkeeper Hugo Lloris has suggested that Emiliano Martinez made a fool of himself during the World Cup final.

Lloris announced his retirement from international football yesterday, and spoke to L’Equipe about his time with the national team.

The French goalkeeper was unable to deliver back-to-back World Cup titles for Les Bleus in Qatar.

It came down to a penalty shootout after a dramatic 3-3 draw with Argentina.

Lloris wasn’t impressed with the antics of his opposite number during the shootout, but it’s hard to argue they didn’t work.

Martinez did everything he could to put off the French penalty takers.

Aurelien Tchouameni in particular was psyched out by Martinez, after he threw the ball away as he approached the spot.

Lloris believed Martinez made a fool of himself, and admitted he couldn’t do the same to Argentina’s penalty takers.

However, as much as he didn’t want to win that way, he talked about how hard it was to lose, and held nothing against Martinez for the nature of his celebrations.

Martinez made a fool of himself – Lloris

Speaking to L’Equipe, Lloris said: “There are some things I can’t do.

“Making a fool of myself in goal, rattling my opponent and crossing the line… I just can’t do that.

“I’m too rational and honest a man to go that way. I don’t know how to win like that, although I didn’t really want to lose like that either.”

When specifically asked about Martinez, he added: “He was instrumental. Concerning his celebrations, he has been judged enough for that, no need to add anything more.

“During the shoot-out, he used every trick in the books to destabilise us.”

Martinez has been linked with Tottenham as a potential replacement for Lloris in the summer.

The £17m goalkeeper has recently been described as the best player in the world in his position, which seems like a stretch.

He would be a very different goalkeeper to Lloris for Tottenham, given their contrasting personalities.

Martinez doesn’t make the same number of remarkable saves as Lloris, but has slightly better distribution.

The Argentinian has also shown that he will do anything to win, and isn’t afraid to ruffle a few feathers.

Lloris insists that Martinez made a fool of himself during the World Cup final, but the 30-year-old won’t mind that while he’s wearing his winners medal.