England lost 2-1 to Argentina in the World Cup on Wednesday as Thomas Tuchel’s side blew a lead in Atlanta to see their major trophy dreams end
08:32, 16 Jul 2026Updated 09:46, 16 Jul 2026
Gary Neville could not hide his frustration after England’s defeat to Argentina(Image: Stick to Football)
Gary Neville and Roy Keane have been involved in an explosive row over England’s World Cup exit. The Three Lions have seen their dreams of another major trophy go up in smoke after losing 2-1 to Argentina on Wednesday night.
Anthony Gordon put Thomas Tuchel’s men in front in the second half to have England dreaming of a first men’s World Cup final since their 1966 victory. However, late goals from Enzo Fernandez and Lautaro Martinez saw the holders come from behind to set up a final with European champions Spain on Sunday.
England will now have to settle for a third-placed playoff on Saturday night against France. It will end what has been a memorable tournament for Tuchel’s team.
And former England internationals Neville and Ian Wright have had their say on Stick to Football on the defeat alongside ex-Republic of Ireland star Keane. You can read the full transcript below with Neville and Keane involved in a heated row over how England should have dealt with Lionel Messi.
The row between Neville and Keane in full
Neville began by questioning why Tuchel didn’t allocate a specific player to deal with Messi’s contant drifting out to the right-hand side.
“For some reason he [Tuchel] didn’t just go and say to Nico O’Reilly, I don’t care whoever else is inside you, stay with [Lionel] Messi when he drops outside you, do not let him go,” Neville said. “Man mark him, and when he comes out here, force him to go back inside because if you go central, he can’t cross it.
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“The minute he’s out there, he’s where [Kevin] De Bruyne used to be, it’s where [David] Beckham used to be. He’s basically putting those wicked crosses in.”
Keane hit back: “Listen to yourself. Just cool your jets,” to which Neville replied: “I don’t need to cool my jets off. How can you not go and just mark him?”
Keane then added: “Do you not think teams have done that in the last 20 years? What makes him great? If you were marking Messi and it was getting towards the end, and remember they scored with five minutes to go, so whatever the 60-odd minutes…”
Roy Keane has tried to explain why stopping Lionel Messi is not easy (Image: Stick to Football)
Neville: “No, Roy.” Keane: “Alright let me just finish this point. So Messi crosses, if you went to him, whether it’s O’Reilly or whoever.”
Neville: “Stand next to him so he can’t get it there.” Keane: “Football’s not like that. You can’t stand next to people.”
Ian Wright then got involved, saying: “What you’re saying, Gary, is they’ve got to stop that ball getting to him.” Neville: “What I’m saying is, okay, it’s difficult to man mark Messi; however, you can stop him getting it. In that area, so stand next to him, Nico O’Reilly, Djed Spence as well, and make him go…”
Keane: “So what’s happened in the last 20 years?” Neville: “What I’m saying, Roy, is that it’s something you can stop.”
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Keane: “All the great coaches and players have done that, cos he’ll go, ‘you can stand next to him’, but I’ll do a little shimmy or I’ll move.”
Neville: “No, no, stop him getting the ball out there, make him go somewhere else, make him drop deeper and go central.” Keane: “But when he did eventually get it, what would you say to him?”
Neville: “You’re dead.” Keane: “Of course you’re dead. So what you might eventually say to him, ‘show him on his right.’
Neville: “Once he’s got the ball and he’s working his magic, he’s playing a little one-twos, he’s played his little run, run and follow, pass and runs, he’s playing his right foot across, you’re dead, you’re done.” Keane: The first goal came from a corner. So that’s nothing to do with Messi or space, that’s players switching off.”
Neville: “I think they switched off in the middle.” Keane: “Of course, they switched off, but why do you switch off? Because your hands are on your knees, you’re looking at each other, and you’re blowing.”
