Argentina overcame a scare to down Egypt and keep alive their World Cup dream – with Gary Neville, Roy Keane and Ian Wright clashing over whether their wins are down to luck
Gary Neville claims Argentina are “riding their luck”(Image: ITV)
Gary Neville accused Argentina of “riding their luck” in the World Cup before Roy Keane and Ian Wright both hit out at him – insisting their comeback wins are not down to luck.
The World Cup holders survived another scare on Tuesday evening as they scored three times in the final 15 minutes to see off Egypt, who had been leading 2-0 with 75 minutes on the clock. Enzo Fernandez eventually scored in stoppage time after Cristian Romero and Lionel Messi had got them back level.
That came after Argentina overcame minnows Cape Verde 3-2 on Friday, but only after the African nation had taken them to extra-time. Neville admits that conceding two goals every knockout game is not sustainable, but got quickly shutdown when he suggested any of it was down to luck.
He said on ITV: “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…”
Both Keane and Wright then snapped back, rubbishing the idea of luck playing a part, and Neville continued: “But 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.”
Wright admitted he was “afraid of them” because they “don’t know when they’re beaten”. Keane himself underlined that the best teams don’t always win the World Cup. “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,” he claimed.
Argentina will play Switzerland in the last eight, where a win could set-up a mouthwatering semi-final against England, who themselves need to beat Norway.
Lionel Messi helped inspire a late second-half comeback(Image: Getty Images)
Messi and co are aiming to become the first team since Brazil way back in 1962 to retain their World Cup crown and the Inter Miami man cut an emotional figure at full-time.
“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.”
