Gary Neville has delivered a brutal yet mixed verdict on Manchester United defender Lisandro Martinez following Argentina's dramatic 3-2 victory over Egypt in the World Cup last-16 tie in Atlanta on Tuesday evening. The Manchester United icon, speaking on ITV's post-match coverage, described Martinez and his defensive partner Cristian Romero as the "best 'worst centre-halves' in the world."
Neville's Blunt Assessment
"You watch [Cristian] Romero and [Lisandro] Martinez, and they're the best 'worst centre-halves' in the world," Neville said. "You watch them, they give goals away constantly. But they don't care about giving goals away because they'll score goals at the other end. They have massive personalities and they keep going."
Argentina trailed 2-0 late in the second half before mounting a stunning comeback, with goals from Romero, Lionel Messi, and Enzo Fernandez securing a 3-2 win. Martinez started alongside Romero in central defence and played a key role in keeping Argentina's title defence alive.
Fighting Spirit Praised
Neville highlighted the duo's relentless mentality despite defensive lapses. "Look, at that point in the game, you think Argentina are hanging on for dear life. They're fighting for their lives and Romero is part of that comeback," he added. "You always ask the questions: 'why is Martinez scoring in the last game? Why is Romero scoring there?' Because they don't give in and they fight, and they fight, and they fight."
Martinez entered the match on the back of scoring in Argentina's 3-2 win over Cape Verde in the previous round, showcasing his attacking contribution from defence.
Roy Keane's Take
Fellow Manchester United legend Roy Keane, also in the ITV studio, praised Romero's goal-scoring movement. "It's his movement," Keane said. "It's obviously a brilliant delivery. His movement is like a striker, he just peels off the back of the defender. Yes, it's poor defending, they're trying to hold a high line. But his movement and his timing is like a top-class striker. Absolutely fantastic. We go back to that desire to try and get back in the game."
