Gary Neville sparked a heated debate with fellow ITV pundits Roy Keane and Ian Wright after claiming Argentina were "riding their luck" in the World Cup. The defending champions staged another dramatic comeback on Tuesday, scoring three times in the final 15 minutes to defeat Egypt 3-2 after trailing 2-0. Enzo Fernandez netted the winner in stoppage time, following goals from Cristian Romero and Lionel Messi.
Neville's Criticism and Pundit Backlash
Neville argued that conceding two goals in each knockout game is unsustainable. "When you watch them against Cape Verde, you watch them against Egypt, and they're not the two best teams in the competition, you think there's no way this team can continue to go on riding their luck..." he said on ITV. However, Keane and Wright quickly dismissed the notion of luck. Wright said he was "afraid of them" because "they don't know when they're beaten." Keane added, "You don't have to be the best, but if you've got fight, desire and Messi, you've got a hell of a chance."
Argentina's Comeback Wins
Argentina's victory over Egypt mirrored their previous match against Cape Verde, which they won 3-2 after extra time. Neville acknowledged the team's spirit but remained skeptical: "This team have got a spirit that is very difficult and they don't give in, so that is something you have to contend with, I can't believe they're going to get through every game like this. They're not playing well enough."
Messi's Emotional Reaction
Lionel Messi, who scored and assisted in the comeback, expressed relief after the match. "It was a relief for everyone," he said. "It's not easy to come back from 2-0 down, but this group never gives up; they fight until the very end. We were lucky to get Cuti's [Romero] goal early on, we were able to turn it around and we won in 90 minutes. What this group did today is incredible and I'm so happy that people can continue to enjoy what we do."
Upcoming Quarter-Final
Argentina will face Switzerland in the quarter-finals. A win could set up a semi-final against England, who need to beat Norway. Argentina aims to become the first team since Brazil in 1962 to retain the World Cup.
