Gary Neville has delivered a scathing assessment of Argentina's performance in the World Cup final, describing their display as "a bag of s***" and questioning their ability to reach the final without Lionel Messi's influence.
Speaking on The Overlap's Stick to Football podcast, Neville stated, "If they stayed in the game, you've got to hand it to them. Well done to them, but they played like a bag of s***." He further elaborated that the team played poorly at times and that their "massive chemistry and fierce competitiveness", coupled with Messi's exceptional talent, were what propelled them.
"Without him, I said this in the last tournament, they're a team that would probably struggle to get to the same point," Neville added.
Argentina were seeking to become only the third nation to win consecutive World Cup titles but failed to register a shot on target until deep into extra time against Spain. Despite a strong defensive effort that kept Spain at bay until Ferran Torres scored in the 106th minute, Argentina's physical approach to the match drew widespread condemnation.
Fellow former England player Ian Wright acknowledged sympathy for Messi's visible distress after the loss but affirmed that Spain was the deserving winner. "I'm delighted that Argentina didn’t win but I am sad, I didn't like to see Messi crying like that, you saw what it meant to him," Wright commented. "But I'm quite happy for Spain."
Messi himself acknowledged the immense pain of the defeat in an Instagram post, writing, "The pain is immense, and this wound will take time to heal." He also reflected on the positive aspects of their campaign, including moments where the team rallied and the support from their country, which he stated brought them "back among the world's elite once again."
"It is hard to fully appreciate our achievement right now, but this group reached two consecutive World Cup finals," Messi continued. "Thank you from the bottom of my heart for every greeting and message."
He concluded by congratulating Spain on their championship victory. Argentina, after a challenging path that included comebacks against Egypt and England, ultimately fell short in the final. The team reportedly declined post-match interviews and did not watch the trophy presentation ceremony.