Argentina's Romero Fires Back at Gary Neville After World Cup Semi Criticism

Argentina defender Cristian Romero responded sharply to former England player Gary Neville's pre-World Cup semi-final comments criticizing him and Lisandro Martinez. Ahead of Argentina's 2-1 victory over England, Neville described the pair as "the best and worst center-back duo in the world," highlighting their inconsistency. After the win, Romero said in an interview, "I just hope that when I retire, I won't be as foolish as him. I hope I won't criticize players or anyone else." He emphasized the pride he and Martinez feel representing Argentina, calling their achievement "historic" and expressing their joy at reaching another World Cup final.

Martinez also addressed the criticism, stating, "We're used to people talking about us. It seems they like to do that, and we respond on the pitch. Always with respect." Romero and Martinez have been regular central defenders for Argentina for several years, starting together in the 2024 Copa America final and most matches in the current World Cup. Romero has played for Tottenham Hotspur for five years, while Martinez has been with Manchester United for four.

Neville, who covers the Premier League as a Sky Sports pundit, explained his harsh remarks earlier in the week on The Overlap show. He said the duo can be brilliant but also prone to errors, calling them "the best and worst center-back pairing in the world" due to their fluctuating performances. During this World Cup, Romero and Martinez kept two clean sheets but conceded six goals across six matches. Argentina's win over England in Atlanta secured their place in the final against Spain, scheduled for Sunday at MetLife Stadium.