Argentina’s World Cup Semi-Final Victory
Argentina defenders Cristian Romero and Lisandro Martinez have addressed comments made by former England player Gary Neville following their team’s 2-1 victory over England in the World Cup semi-finals. The match saw Argentina advance to their second consecutive final, where they are set to face Spain.
The semi-final contest, held in Atlanta, was a closely fought affair. England initially took the lead in the 55th minute through Anthony Gordon. However, the game shifted significantly in the 72nd minute when Ezri Konsa was substituted on for the goalscorer. This change saw England adopt a more defensive posture, allowing Argentina to press forward.
Argentina capitalised on this shift, with Enzo Fernandez scoring an equaliser in the 85th minute from the edge of the box. The winning goal came in added time, when Lautaro Martinez headed home, securing Argentina‘s place in the final. Both Romero and Martinez received yellow cards during the match but maintained a strong defensive presence.
Neville’s Criticism and Player Reactions
Prior to the semi-final, Gary Neville had described Argentina‘s central defensive pairing of Romero and Martinez as “the best, worst centre-half pairing in the world.” He reiterated similar sentiments during ITV Sport‘s World Cup coverage after Argentina‘s 3-2 win against Egypt, stating that they “give goals away constantly, but they don’t care about giving goals away because they’ll score goals at the other end.” Neville also noted their “massive personalities” and their resilience, highlighting their fighting spirit.
Neville’s comments on The Overlap ahead of the semi-final further elaborated on his view, suggesting that the pair “seem to give a goal away between them every single game” for their club teams. However, he also acknowledged their performance for Argentina, where they are “scoring goals, heading the ball, they’re literally everywhere — it’s incredible.” He concluded by calling them “the best, worst centre-half pairing in the world” due to their ability to be both “unbelievable” and at times “ridiculous.”
The remarks did not go unnoticed by the Argentina players. Following the victory over England, Cristian Romero responded directly to Neville’s criticism. Speaking to DSports, Romero stated, “The only thing that I hope for is that when I retire, I am not that stupid. Hopefully I won’t criticise a player or anyone.” He emphasised the players’ dedication to their national team, adding, “Because at the end of the day, we are doing our best for our national team. Sometimes it goes right for us, sometimes badly, but we are just happy to be in a World Cup final again.”
Lisandro Martinez also commented on the ongoing scrutiny, telling DSports Argentina, “We’re used to people always talking about us, it seems they just love talking about us. We don’t really respond, we just let our play on the pitch do the talking, always with respect.”
Significance of the Achievement
For Romero, reaching another World Cup final is a significant achievement. He expressed the team’s pride, saying, “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.” This sentiment highlights the importance of their success for the team and the nation.
The defensive duo has been a consistent presence for Argentina throughout the summer, featuring in all but one of their matches, which was the final group stage match against Jordan. Their journey includes a 2024 Copa America final victory over Colombia, further cementing their role in the Albiceleste squad’s recent successes. The run to the final in New Jersey adds another notable chapter to their time together with the national team.
Neville also critiqued England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford‘s performance on the Stick to Football World Cup Watch Party, suggesting he “got to save that” regarding Fernandez‘s equaliser, despite the Everton goalkeeper being at full stretch.
Argentina will now prepare to face Spain in the World Cup final.
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Source: independent.co.uk
Dominic Hayes is the Sports News Writer at NewsGB, covering rugby union, golf and boxing with five years of reporting experience. He started on a north-east sports desk. He holds a degree in Journalism from Teesside University and completed an NCTJ diploma. Based in Middlesbrough, he follows pro golf and amateur boxing. “Fast and accurate is the only standard worth keeping.”
