JUST IN: I Hope I’m Never That Stupid!’ – Furious Cristian Romero Tears Into Gary Neville After England Exit

‘I Hope I’m Never That Stupid’ – Furious Cristian Romero Tears Into Gary Neville After England Exit

Cristian Romero has delivered a passionate response to Gary Neville after the former Manchester United defender questioned Argentina’s centre-back partnership before their dramatic World Cup semi-final victory over England.

Argentina once again proved why they are one of the most resilient teams in world football, producing another remarkable comeback to book their place in a second consecutive FIFA World Cup final. Lionel Scaloni’s side refused to give up despite falling behind, overturning the deficit late in the match to defeat England 2-1 and set up a blockbuster showdown with Spain.

England looked to be in complete control for much of the contest after Anthony Gordon opened the scoring in the 55th minute. The Newcastle United winger calmly converted Morgan Rogers’ perfectly delivered cross to hand Thomas Tuchel’s side the advantage and leave England dreaming of a place in the final.

However, the game changed dramatically after England opted to protect their lead by switching to a more defensive five-man backline. The tactical decision allowed Argentina to dominate possession, pile on relentless pressure, and gradually force England deeper into their own half.

Argentina’s persistence was finally rewarded five minutes from full-time when Enzo Fernandez curled a stunning effort beyond the England goalkeeper to restore parity. With momentum firmly on their side, the South American giants continued to attack, and deep into stoppage time Lautaro Martinez completed the comeback with a clinical finish in the 92nd minute, sending Argentina’s players and supporters into wild celebrations.

Once again, Argentina demonstrated the fighting spirit and composure that have defined their World Cup campaign. At the heart of that determination were central defenders Cristian Romero and Lisandro Martinez, who produced commanding performances to frustrate England after the early setback.

Before the match, Gary Neville had cast doubt on the reliability of Argentina’s defensive partnership during an appearance on The Overlap. Although he acknowledged their quality, he also suggested they were capable of making costly mistakes.

“I call them the best, worst centre-half pairing in the world,” Neville said. “At times they can be unbelievable, but the next moment it’s the sublime to the ridiculous.”

Despite Neville also praising their mentality, Romero admitted that the criticism was all he and Martinez needed for extra motivation heading into one of the biggest matches of the tournament.

“Lisandro and I were on fire before the game because of what Gary Neville said,” Romero revealed after the victory.

The Tottenham defender then aimed another dig at the former England international, insisting that English pundits are too quick to judge players before important matches.

“In England they love to speak before. We send him a big hug,” Romero said. “I hope I’ll never be like him when I retire. I will not criticise players.”

He continued: “The only thing I hope is that when I retire, I am not that stupid. Hopefully I won’t criticise a player or anyone because, at the end of the day, we are doing our best for our national team.”

Romero’s comments highlighted just how much Neville’s remarks had fuelled Argentina’s determination, with both defenders producing disciplined displays to help their nation secure another famous victory on football’s biggest stage.

The focus for Romero now shifts to Sunday’s highly anticipated World Cup final against Spain, where Argentina will attempt to defend their world title and cement their place in football history.

However, while celebrations continue following the dramatic semi-final triumph, Argentina could also face scrutiny from FIFA over their post-match celebrations. Reports suggest football’s governing body may review the events that unfolded after the final whistle, although no official punishment has yet been confirmed.

Romero himself is no stranger to disciplinary action, having collected six red cards during his Tottenham Hotspur career, but his aggressive style once again proved invaluable as Argentina battled their way into another final.