Scaloni defends Argentina amid England ex-players' criticism

Argentina enters the England semifinal at the 2026 World Cup on a three-game winning streak (WWW), but former England players Gary Neville and Joe Cole have fired shots. Scaloni struck back: "When I retire, I won't criticize any player, whether Argentinian, Japanese or English".

What was said about Messi and Argentina's defense?

Neville called the Romero-Martínez center-back pairing "the best-worst defense in the world", while Cole claimed Messi "will be put to sleep". Scaloni downplayed the drama: "It's just a football match".

Why it matters for Argentina

The match carries extra weight: it will be Messi's first-ever game against England. Argentina arrives confident after a 2-0 win over Angola on November 14, 2025, and a three-match winning run.

What did Harry Kane say about the game?

England's captain warned: "We're not focusing on history. We know Argentina is a great team, tactical and knows how to slow the game down". Scaloni countered: "The team isn't playing as badly as people say. We're in the semifinals for a reason".