Cristian Romero blasts Gary Neville after Argentina's World Cup semi-final win
Cristian Romero hit back at Gary Neville's criticism of his defensive partnership with Lisandro Martinez following Argentina's victory over England.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons / CC BY 3.0 / Author: Sebas
Argentina defender Cristian Romero has hit back at Gary Neville following his criticism of the defensive partnership with Lisandro Martinez during the 2026 World Cup. Neville had previously labeled the duo the "best, worst centre-half pairing in the world," highlighting their tendency to oscillate between brilliance and costly errors.
Speaking after the semi-final win in Atlanta, Romero fired back at the pundit's assessment, stating that he hopes to avoid being "that stupid" when he eventually retires from professional football.
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. Cristian Romero
Martinez added that the squad is accustomed to intense media scrutiny and prefers to let their performance on the pitch speak for them. The Manchester United defender emphasized that their response is always delivered with respect, despite the constant pressure they face.
Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni was visibly moved by the team's resilience after they overcame a goal from Anthony Gordon to win 2-1. Scaloni praised his side's spirit and brotherhood, noting that the players' refusal to give up has been the driving force behind their successful campaign to reach another World Cup final.