Gary Neville confirmed his criticism of Christian Romero and Lisandro Martínez before the English television cameras, after the elimination of England at the hands of Argentina in the 2026 World Cup semi-finalsand he was direct, “without Lionel Messithe two Argentine defenders would not be able to play in the final.
The week had not been calm for the ex-lateral of the Manchester United. Days before the game atlantathe former defender had shot in against the central duo La Scaloneta: “Romero and Martínez give away one goal per game, but then you see them scoring goals, giving passes and they are literally everywhere. I call them the best and worst centre-back pairing in the world”. The final result, 2-1 in favor of the Argentines, did not move him from his position. On the contrary.
In front of an English television presenter who reminded him that Rosemary I had already responded to him in public, Neville He didn’t turn back. “Just to add the exact words I said: they give away goals,” the 51-year-old former soccer player began. And he went further: “If they didn’t have Lionel Messi in front… those two would have to go and hug him every minute of every day”he argued, in reference to the six goals that the Argentine defense received in four games in the direct elimination phase of the tournament: two against Egypttwo before Cape Verdeone before Swiss and one before England.
But Neville He was not alone in criticizing. In the same section of the interview he acknowledged that the two defenders are “a force of nature”with “incredible personalities” and a physical presence that leads them to win headers both in their own area and in the rival’s area. “They go from the sublime to the ridiculous”he summarized, a phrase that condenses the contradiction that, according to him, defines the couple. For the ex-lateral, there is no other defensive duo in today’s football with such a marked duality.
The case of Rosemary had a particular weight in the analysis of Neville. The central Tottenham He played last season in a team that, according to the former soccer player, “almost relegated and went down a category in the Premier League and received 65 goals. “I think I know what I’m talking about when I see a player”he maintained, before adding that the Argentine defender is “relatively young” and that, in his opinion, he still does not meet the conditions of a defender with consolidated experience, despite having a World Cup and first-class achievements in his record.
From Argentinathe responses did not take long. Pipo Gorositotechnical director of Saint Lawrence and champion of America with La Scalonetawas the first to cross it bluntly: “Tell this Gary Neville that the only thing he knew how to do was lateral, you piece of wood”he shot. Rosemaryfor his part, waited for the final whistle to speak into the microphones of : “The only thing I hope is that when I retire I won’t be so stupid. That tomorrow I won’t criticize a player, criticize anyone, because you go out on the field to give your best for your team, for your team.”stated the defender, that everything indicates that he will leave the Tottenham in this transfer market.
Lisandro Martínezmore concisely, also responded: “We are used to them always talking about us. You can see that they like to talk about us and we respond on the field, nothing more”.
Before the presenter, Neville heard the sayings of Rosemary and did not retreat. He recognized that the talent of both defenders is real, that Martinez He has the same condition, but insisted that the errors and goals conceded are data that do not allow discussion. What he did make clear is that the debate, for him, has a protagonist who surpasses everything: “What we saw last night was truly genius”he said about Messibefore the conversation turned to the question that he himself posed on his podcast with Roy Keane: If the Argentine captain, at 39 years old and with two assists in the semifinal against Englandit already deserves to be above Pele and Maradona in the history of football. Argentina thus reaching another final of the World Cup 2026with Messi as the common thread of a campaign that, party by party, deepens this debate.
Source: Infobae
