Cristian Romero and Lisandro Martinez are the 'best worst centre-back partnership at the World Cup' but here's why Argentina's dynamite duo will be crucial against England

Remember those days when centre halves were the reliable ones? Solid and unspectacular, exuding calm in more sensible times. From Bobby Moore to

Thiago Silva

, defusing danger and oozing authority.

Then there's Cristian Romero and

Lisandro Martinez

. Argentina's dynamite duo, like nitro-glycerine in albiceleste packaging with fuses lit. More accustomed to blasting apart defensive bedrock than nurturing it, reinforcing it and building upon it.

'The best "worst centre-halves" in the world,' as billed by

Gary Neville

on

ITV

.

'They give goals away constantly. But they don't care about giving goals away because they'll score goals at the other end. They have massive personalities and they keep going.'

Manchester United

's Martinez registered a goal and an assist against Cape Verde and Romero's late equaliser in the fight back win against Egypt had echoes of his double for

Tottenham

- a flying header and an overhead kick - to salvage a point at Newcastle in December.

He was at it again a month later, a late equaliser at

Burnley

when

Thomas Frank

was feeling the heat. If you get them on the pitch, injuries and suspensions permitting, they do not hide.

Cristian Romero and Lisandro Martinez were dubbed the 'best "worst centre-halves" in the world' by Gary Neville, owning to the pair shipping goals but contributing at the other end

Martinez scored and assisted to help Argentina past Cape Verde in the last-32

Romero's headed goal against Egypt sparked Argentina's comeback from 2-0 to win 3-2 in the last-16

Romero, for all his faults, will go down as a hero at Spurs if only for his immense performance in the Europa League final of 2025.

'They don't give in,' said Neville. 'They fight, and they fight, and they fight.'

Ferocious competitors from the warrior class. Both quick across the ground and comfortable on the ball, vital attributes for centre-halves in the modern game.

Neither seem unduly concerned if they mistime a challenge or concede a foul. Unafraid of contact, they walk the line, often able to keep just the right side but experts at the niggle. And occasionally overstepping.

When Martinez picked up his first red card in the Premier League in April it was for pulling Dominic Calvert-Lewin's hair.

Perhaps his reputation preceded him on that occasion. Manchester United fans revel in his combative nature and his nickname of 'The Butcher' which hails from Ajax. There is an Argentina flag complete with a meat cleaver often on display at Old Trafford by way of tribute.

Martinez though is more accustomed to the surgeon's scalpel, missing more than a hundred games through injury since he became part of Erik ten Hag's influx of signings from Ajax in 2022.

Both he and Romero have been intermittently prone to injuries. It is probably at least partly down to a physical style bordering on reckless.

For all Romero's faults, he will go down as a Tottenham hero for his man of the match performance in the 2025 Europa League final

Romero has failed to kick the red card habit at club level with six in five seasons at Tottenham

Both have had their injury troubles, with Martinez missing close to a year after an ACL tear

And Romero has yet to kick the red-card habit. Six in five years at Spurs. Four reds and 36 yellows in 126 Premier League appearances. It makes Martinez the more contained of the pair.

The last we saw of Romero in Spurs colours was in tears as he left the pitch at Sunderland in April in Roberto De Zerbi's first game in charge, fearing a freak injury caused by a nudge from Brian Brobbey and a head-to-knee collision with his own goalkeeper was about to rule him out of the World Cup.

After scans revealed all hope was not lost, Romero flew home in a desperate race to prove his fitness for Argentina and seemed ready to forgo leadership duties on the last day of the season as Spurs fought to protect their Premier League status.

In the end, he made it back to see them beat Everton although it is not the first time since his arrival in North London in 2021 that Romero seemed to be more committed to country than the club that pays his wages.

There was the post-pandemic 'red zone' farce when he was among those who reported for Argentina duty against the wishes of their clubs and had to train alone in Croatia on quarantine before they were allowed back into the United Kingdom.

This cultish commitment to the cause is one of Argentina's great strengths.

Lionel Scaloni has created the spirit of a fanatical brotherhood around their icon Lionel Messi. They all want to be part of the Messi era and willing to do what it takes to help him lead the nation to success.

This was evident in Qatar four years ago and is clear again. It has produced a kind of sporting alchemy. Nobody lets a teammate down. Romero has been more reliable for Argentina than for Spurs.

The pair are part of a brotherhood forged by manager Lionel Scolani around their icon Lionel Messi

There is a desire to be part of the Messi era and do whatever it takes to help him achieve success

Martinez has slotted in beside him at the back. Smaller, nimbler and left sided, he combines nicely with Romero. Both are flexible and comfortable in a back four or a back three.

The defenders were born 99 days apart in 1998, a year when the footballing enmity of Argentina and England was rekindled in a World Cup thriller featuring that spectacular solo goal by Michael Owen and that David Beckham red card.

They progressed through the international youth ranks together and have qualities enough to satisfy classic English perceptions of Argentine cynicism.

The image has endured since Antonio Rattin, a legendary figure who died on Saturday at the age of 89, refused to leave the pitch when sent off playing against England at Wembley in the 1966 quarter final.

These emotions enhanced by Diego Maradona's Hand of God in Mexico City and Simeone's playacting in St Etienne will bubble back to the surface in Atalanta.

It will come down to who can harness them the best. Who keeps cool. Who blows their fuse.

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