The qualification of the Argentine National Team for the final of the 2026 World Cup also sparked a strong exchange off the field. Following the 2-1 victory over England, Cristian Romero and Lisandro Martínez responded to the criticisms made by Gary Neville beforehand regarding the central duo of Lionel Scaloni's team.
The former Manchester United full-back, now a commentator on English television, had questioned the level of both defenders before the match. "I see no way we don't score at least two goals. I call them the best-worst center-back pairing in the world. They go from sublime to ridiculous. You have Cristian Romero and Lisandro Martínez who seem to give away a goal per game between them," he stated.
However, after the Argentine victory in Atlanta, Romero seized the opportunity to respond. Initially, he launched an irony directed at the English analysts: "We were angry because, otherwise, there’s a lot of talk. In England, they talk a lot before the match, so we send them a greeting; they must be very happy."
