Gary Neville highlighted Lisandro Martinez’s questionable defending in Argentina’s stunning World Cup comeback win over Egypt, accusing the centre-back of ‘switching off’ in the first half.
Argentina, the holders, entered the last-16 clash as the heavy favourites to advance through to the quarter-finals, despite surviving an almighty fright at the round-of-32 stage against Cape Verde.
But Lionel Scaloni’s men got off to a nightmare as Yasser Ibrahim outjumped Martinez to head Egypt in front, before Mostafa Zico finished off a rapid counter-attack to increase the deficit in the 67th minute.
Argentina had earlier wasted a golden chance to draw level from the spot after Haissem Hassan fouled Nicolas Tagliafico, with Lionel Messi seeing his effort saved by Mostafa Shobeir – the great man’s fourth penalty miss in eight attempts at World Cups.
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But the reigning champions picked themselves up to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat as Cristian Romero pulled one back, before Messi and Enzo Fernandez also netted in a breathless 13-minute fightback at the death in Atlanta.
Scaloni’s side preserved their narrow advantage in the remaining minutes to set up what promises to be an intriguing clash against the winner of Switzerland’s last-16 contest with Colombia.
Dissecting Egypt’s opening goal in the ITV Sport studio at the half-time break, Neville pointed the finger at Martinez, claiming the Manchester United centre-half had suffered a lapse in concentration.
‘I’m surprised because he’s usually the best actually. Because of his size, he’s very aware of being body to body and touch tight,’ the former Manchester United and England right-back explained.
‘A great delivery is put into the back post, but you just watch him [Martinez] here… he is close, he’s sort of wrestling with Ibrahim and then all of a sudden he just steps off him.
‘I think he might just be thinking about stepping up for offside with the rest in line.
‘He’s quite tight. He’s tight, he’s tight and that’s what he does, he’s very good at it, and then he just switches off for a split-second.
‘Maybe he thinks they’re just going to push up, but it’s a great delivery, a great header.’
Ian Wright, meanwhile, opted to overlook Martinez’s defending, instead praising Ibrahim for the placement of his thumping header.
‘Brilliant. He’s headed it back where it’s come from,’ the ex-Arsenal and England striker gushed.
‘He’s just got on the right side of him and just head it back where it’s come from.’
Speaking shortly after the final whistle, Neville singled out Fernandez for praise, applauding the Chelsea midfielder’s ‘special’ header to send Argentina through to the last eight.
‘On the goal, though, we talk about Messi a lot… Enzo Fernandez is a hell of a football player,’ Neville – who represented England at two World Cups – said of the winner.
‘I think in England we can’t quite work him out because he’s unconventional and sometimes he frustrates.
‘But I tell you what, he has a hell of an influence on this team and that is a special header, that.’
Neville felt it was ‘inevitable’ that Argentina would rescue the game when Romero headed Messi’s cross beyond Shobeir to make it 2-1 with 11 minutes remaining of normal time.
‘You know something? If you’re losing 2-0 and you get one back and you’re a top team with great experience, honestly, you feel like the walls are going to cave in for the opposition,’ he explained.
‘You can smell it. The anxiety in the crowd, your own crowd are with you.
‘As soon as Argentina got one you just knew, it was inevitable.’
Argentina will resume their defence of the trophy at 2am BST on Sunday versus either Switzerland or Colombia at Kansas’ Arrowhead Stadium.
If they advance from their quarter-final, Messi and Co would face off against one of England or Norway in the last four.
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