Post-Match Firestorm
Romero Slams Neville as 'Stupid' After Argentina Beats England in World Cup Semifinal
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Key Points
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Romero and Martínez have started all but one of Argentina's World Cup matches this summer and were part of Argentina's 2024 Copa America final victory over Colombia, underscoring the durability and longevity of their international partnership.
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Harry Kane admitted England could not hold on after taking the lead, describing waves of Argentina pressure: 'Once we went 1-0 up, we seemed to just try to hold on... After the goal, whether it was because they were pushing more men forward or because we couldn’t match them individually, it was wave after wave, and we were trying to hold on, our guys blocking. But in the end, it just wasn’t enough.'
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Martínez offered a defiant stance on criticism, saying: 'We’re used to people always talking about us. It seems like they like doing it, and we respond on the pitch, that’s it, always with respect.'
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Romero indicated the pre-match critique had fired him up, telling reporters he and his teammates were 'fired up before the game because of Gary Neville's comments,' and later, in other coverage, England could hear from them as he added a message to England after the win.
Argentina beat England in the 2026 FIFA World Cup semifinal, and defender Cristian Romero wasted no time firing back at Gary Neville. 'I hope when I retire, I'm not that stupid,' Romero told reporters, according to The New York Times, in a direct shot at the former England international who had publicly mocked Argentina's defensive pairing before the match.
Neville had called Romero and Lisandro Martínez the 'best-worst' center-back pair, warning they could gift a goal at any moment. Instead, Argentina won. Romero said the comments 'fired us up before the game,' and both defenders made clear they let their play do the talking, Marca reported.
Neville's Pre-Match Criticism Gave Argentina Extra Fuel
Before the semifinal, Neville singled out Argentina's center-back duo. He said Romero and Martínez were capable of winning headers and scoring, but could just as easily give a goal away. It was a blunt warning aimed at England — but it had an unintended effect, according to Mirror.
Romero confirmed the comments landed in Argentina's locker room. He told reporters he and his teammates were 'fired up before the game because of Gary Neville's comments.' Martínez added: 'We're used to people always talking about us. It seems like they like doing it, and we respond on the pitch — always with respect,' per World Soccer Talk.
Romero and Martínez Have Been Argentina's Defensive Backbone All Summer
The two defenders have been nearly ever-present for Argentina at this World Cup. They started all but one of Argentina's matches. They were also both part of Argentina's 2024 Copa America final win over Colombia, showing how long and durable their partnership has become.
That track record made Neville's criticism land harder after the final whistle. Romero doubled down in his post-match comments, telling reporters he hoped not to be 'as stupid as Neville' when his own playing days end, The New York Times reported. It was one of the sharpest post-match quotes of the tournament.
England Took the Lead but Could Not Hold On Against Argentina's Pressure
England actually went ahead first. But the lead did not last. Harry Kane described what happened next: 'Once we went 1-0 up, we seemed to just try to hold on.' Argentina kept coming. Kane said it was 'wave after wave' of pressure, with England players blocking desperately.
In the end, Kane admitted, 'it just wasn't enough.' Argentina found a way through. The result validated what Romero and Martínez had been saying — that critics talk while they play. Marca noted that Argentina's defensive pair finished the match without gifting a goal, the exact mistake Neville had predicted, Mirror reported.
A Post-Match Exchange That Overshadowed the Final Whistle
The back-and-forth between Romero and Neville became one of the biggest storylines after the game. Romero did not soften his words. He called Neville 'stupid' twice — once in a general comment and once more directly, World Soccer Talk reported.
Martínez kept his response slightly cooler but just as pointed. He said the criticism never bothered him, only motivated him. The whole exchange showed how a pundit's pregame take can become fuel for the players being criticized — and how Argentina used every word of it to push themselves further in the World Cup semifinal.
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