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Gary Neville has delivered a harsh critique of Argentina’s performance in their World Cup final loss to Spain, claiming Lionel Scaloni’s men were fortunate to remain competitive. The former Manchester United and England defender also highlighted what he sees as the team’s excessive reliance on Lionel Messi.

Neville’s criticism of Argentina came after their 1-0 extra-time defeat to Spain in the World Cup final. The ex-England right-back argued that the Albiceleste produced a poor showing despite managing to take the game beyond regulation time. Argentina, who were attempting to claim consecutive World Cup titles, struggled to create clear chances against La Roja. They failed to register a single shot until deep into extra-time, when Ferran Torres finally netted the decisive goal in the 106th minute.

Speaking to Sky Bet, Neville acknowledged Argentina’s resilience but insisted their overall display warranted strong condemnation. “I did say that my first comments were to admire them,” he explained. “But they played terribly, let’s be honest — they were poor throughout the game. I’d say if they managed to stay in it, fair play to them. Credit where it’s due, but they played like a bag of rubbish.”

He reiterated his assessment, adding, “If it looks bad and it smells bad, it’s bad — simple as that. What we saw in the final was a poor performance, and they’ve delivered subpar displays at times.”

Neville also pointed out that Argentina’s strong team spirit and fierce competitiveness often hide weaknesses in their overall play. He believes Messi’s individual brilliance has been the key factor driving their success. “They’ve got incredible chemistry and a relentless competitive edge that carries them through, plus an extraordinary player up front who makes the difference,” Neville said. “Without him [Messi], as I said during the last tournament, they’d probably struggle to reach the same stage.”

Argentina ultimately left New Jersey without defending their World Cup crown after Spain’s breakthrough in extra-time. The focus will now shift to whether Scaloni’s side can move beyond their dependence on Messi — who may have played his final World Cup — and still remain among the world’s top footballing nations.