Argentina defender Cristian Romero has criticized former England player Gary Neville, calling his pre-match comments about Romero and his defensive partner Lisandro Martinez "stupid." Neville had described the pair as "the best, worst centre-back pairing in the world" prior to the World Cup semi-final match.
Despite receiving yellow cards, Romero and Martinez played a key role in limiting England to two shots on target, as Argentina secured a victory to advance to the final. The defensive duo has been a consistent presence for Argentina throughout the tournament, starting in all but one match.
Romero addressed Neville's remarks after the game, stating, "Lisandro and me, we were on fire before the game because of what Gary Neville said." He added, "In England, they love to speak before. We send him a big hug... 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, speaking on The Overlap podcast, had commented on the pair's tendency to concede goals while also acknowledging their impactful performances. "They seem to give a goal away between them every single game," Neville said. "But you watch them, they are scoring goals, heading the ball, they're literally everywhere. It's incredible. I call them the best, worst centre-back pairing in the world. Because they absolutely, at times, can be unbelievable, but the next minute it's the sublime to the ridiculous."
This is not the first time Martinez has faced criticism from former players. He previously responded to comments made by Nicky Butt and Paul Scholes regarding his physicality against forwards like Erling Haaland. Martinez stated that if critics wish to address him, they should do so in person rather than on television.
Argentina is set to face Spain in the World Cup final, aiming for their fourth tournament title. England will play France in the third-place match.