Cristian Romero Hits Back at Gary Neville After Argentina Reach World Cup Final

Posted : 16 July 2026

Argentina defender Cristian Romero has strongly responded to criticism from former England international Gary Neville after the world champions' dramatic 2-1 victory over England secured their place in a second consecutive FIFA World Cup final. Romero took issue with Neville's pre-match assessment of Argentina's central defensive partnership, describing the pundit's remarks as "stupid."

Ahead of the semifinal in Atlanta, Neville labelled Romero and Lisandro Martinez as "the best, worst centre-half pairing in the world," praising their qualities while questioning their consistency. The Argentine duo answered those doubts on the pitch, helping restrict England to just two shots on target despite Anthony Gordon's second-half opener before Argentina completed a dramatic late comeback.

Speaking after the victory, Romero said he hopes he never becomes the type of retired player who publicly criticises others. The Tottenham defender stressed that he and his teammates are committed to giving everything for Argentina every time they represent their country, regardless of the outcome, and believes reaching another World Cup final is a significant achievement for the squad.

Romero also highlighted the pride the players feel when wearing the Argentina shirt, saying the current group understands the responsibility that comes with defending the nation's footballing legacy. Argentina will now face Spain in Sunday's final as they attempt to become the first country since Brazil in 1962 to successfully retain the World Cup.

Manchester United defender Lisandro Martinez also dismissed the criticism, insisting that outside opinions have become a familiar part of their careers. He explained that rather than responding through words, Argentina's defenders prefer to let their performances speak for themselves while maintaining respect for their critics.

The exchange added another layer to the intense rivalry between England and Argentina, but Romero's focus has now shifted to the biggest match of all. After playing a key role in shutting down England's attack and helping engineer another famous Argentine victory, the centre-back is aiming to cap the tournament by lifting the World Cup trophy once again.

Cristian Romero Hits Back at Gary Neville After Argentina Reach World Cup Final

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