Argentina Defenders Address Criticism
Argentina defenders Cristian Romero and Lisandro Martinez have responded to comments made by former England international Gary Neville following their team’s 2-1 victory over England in the World Cup semi-finals. Neville had previously described the pair as “the best, worst centre-half pairing in the world.”
The remarks from Neville were made during the build-up to the semi-final match, which took place in Atlanta. He had highlighted what he perceived as a struggle for consistency from the two players during their time in the Premier League, despite acknowledging their quality for their respective clubs, Tottenham and Manchester United.
Neville’s assessment, shared on The Overlap ahead of the match, suggested that the duo “seem to give a goal away between them every single game.” However, he also noted their contrasting performances for Argentina, where they appeared to be “scoring goals, heading the ball, they’re literally everywhere – it’s incredible.” He reiterated his description, stating, “I call them the best, worst centre-half pairing in the world. Because they absolutely at times they can be unbelievable but the next, it’s the sublime to the ridiculous.”
Post-Match Reactions from Romero and Martinez
Following Argentina‘s progression to the World Cup final, Cristian Romero directly addressed Neville’s criticism. Speaking to DSports, Romero expressed his hope that he would not become “that stupid” when he retires, and that he would not criticise other players. He emphasised that players are doing their best for their national team, acknowledging that sometimes performances go well and sometimes they do not. Romero highlighted the significance of reaching another World Cup final, stating, “I think we are making history, for us it is something really huge, and we feel the significance of this shirt like no one else.”
His defensive partner, Lisandro Martinez, also commented on the ongoing scrutiny. Martinez told DSports Argentina that the pair are accustomed to people talking about them, suggesting that some individuals “just love talking about us.” He added that they prefer to let their play on the pitch speak for itself, always maintaining respect.
Neville’s comments were not new, as he had also made similar observations after Argentina‘s 3-2 win over Egypt, where he again referred to Romero and Martinez as “the best worst centre-halves in the world.” During ITV Sport‘s World Cup coverage, Neville noted that while they might concede goals, they have “massive personalities and they keep going.” He pointed to moments where Argentina seemed to be “holding on for dear life” but fought back, with Romero being part of that comeback. Neville questioned the positioning of players like Romero and Martinez in attacking situations, but ultimately acknowledged their fighting spirit, stating, “They don’t give in and they fight, and they fight, and they fight.”
Argentina’s Path to the Final
The semi-final match against England saw Argentina come from behind to secure their victory. England initially took the lead in the 55th minute through Anthony Gordon. The game’s momentum shifted around the 72nd minute when Ezri Konsa was substituted in for the goalscorer, leading to England adopting a deeper defensive posture. This allowed Argentina to press forward and capitalise on the opportunity.
Enzo Fernandez scored the equaliser for Argentina in the 85th minute with an effort from the edge of the box, a goal Neville believed England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford should have saved. Neville commented on the Stick to Football World Cup Watch Party that despite Pickford being at full stretch, the shot was “not gone in the corner” and he “has got to save that.” The winning goal for Argentina came in added time, with Lautaro Martinez heading home. This victory propelled Argentina into their second consecutive final, where they are set to face Spain.
The journey to the final in New Jersey marks another significant achievement for Romero and Martinez with the Albiceleste. Their time together has included the 2024 Copa America final victory over Colombia. The defensive duo has been central to almost all of Argentina‘s matches this summer, participating in every game except for the final group stage match against Jordan.
The team’s success in reaching the final continues to build on their recent achievements, with the players expressing a strong connection to the national team shirt. The upcoming final against Spain will be a significant event for the squad.
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Source: independent.co.uk
Leo Ashworth is a Sports News Writer at Latest News UK. He cut his teeth on regional sport before specialising in fast breaking-news writing. He focuses on rugby union, golf and boxing and is known for clear, deadline-driven reporting. He holds a degree in Journalism from the University of Central Lancashire and completed an NCTJ diploma. Now based in Newcastle, he follows the European Tour and boxes at an amateur gym. “Get it right first, then tell readers why it matters.”