Argentina defender Cristian Romero mocked pundit Gary Neville on Thursday after Argentina eliminated England from the 2026 World Cup [1].

The exchange highlights the intense friction between the Argentine squad and English media following a high-stakes semifinal clash. The dispute centers on Neville's previous critiques of the Argentine defensive line.

Argentina secured a 2-1 victory over England in the semifinal match [1]. Following the result, Romero responded to Neville's earlier assessments of the team's center-backs. Romero said Neville was "so stupid" and added, "I'm never that stupid" [1, 2].

The friction began when Neville described the Argentine center-halves as "the best worst centre‑halves in the world" [3]. This criticism prompted the retaliatory comments from Romero, who serves as the captain for Tottenham [1].

Reports on the aftermath of the comments vary regarding the specific targets of the dispute. Some accounts indicate that Neville's responses were directed toward defender Lisandro Martínez [3]. Other reports focus on the direct verbal clash between Romero and Neville [1, 2].

Neville, a former England defender, has been a prominent voice in the coverage of the tournament. His critique of the Argentine defensive style appeared to trigger a defensive reaction from the players who helped secure the win over England [1, 2].

“"I'm never that stupid"”

The clash between Romero and Neville reflects the historical sporting rivalry between Argentina and England, amplified by the pressure of a World Cup semifinal. By dismissing the punditry of a former opponent, Romero asserts the dominance of the current Argentine squad over traditional English football critiques.