Gary Neville has reiterated his critical assessment of Argentina's center-back pairing, Lisandro Martinez and Cristian Romero, following a public exchange where Romero called the former Manchester United defender "stupid." Neville had previously labeled the duo the "best, worst centre-back pairing in the world" before Argentina's 2-1 World Cup semi-final win against England.
Romero responded to Neville's remarks after the match, suggesting that his and Martinez's performances were fueled by the criticism. "Lisandro and me, we were on fire before the game because of what Gary Neville said," Romero stated. He added, "I hope I'll not be like him when I retire, I will not criticise the players. The only thing that I hope for is that when I retire, I am not that stupid."
Neville, however, did not retract his statements. He pointed to the number of goals Argentina conceded during the knockout stages of the tournament, citing specific instances where Martinez and Romero allegedly made errors. Neville argued that Lionel Messi was primarily responsible for Argentina's victories, having to compensate for defensive lapses against Egypt, Cape Verde, and Switzerland.
"If they didn't have Lionel Messi up front... those two should go and hug him every single minute of every single day because to be fair he's had to pull them out of the mire when they've conceded two against Egypt, two against Cape Verde and one against Switzerland and England," Neville said on Sky Sports. He acknowledged their talent and effort, describing them as "forces of nature" who "go from the sublime to the ridiculous."
Neville also drew attention to Romero's previous season with a Tottenham Hotspur team that narrowly avoided relegation from the Premier League, conceding 65 goals. "So I think I know what I'm talking about when I watch a player," Neville asserted. He maintained that while both players are talented, they "do make mistakes - lots of them."
Neville concluded that Argentina's win was a testament to Messi's individual brilliance rather than the performance of the center-backs. "Argentina didn't win last night because of the centre-backs - they won last night because of their great player who is arguably the greatest of all time," he stated.
This is not the first time Martinez has been the subject of critical commentary from former Manchester United figures. He previously faced remarks from Nicky Butt and Paul Scholes regarding his physicality, particularly in anticipation of matches against strong strikers like Erling Haaland. Martinez had responded to such comments by expressing his indifference to public criticism, stating he preferred direct engagement if individuals had issues with his performance. Argentina is set to face Spain in the World Cup final, while England will play in the third-place playoff match.