Roy Keane says watching Argentina 'is like watching a Championship side'

Roy Keane has slammed Argentina's "poor" performances, after a goalless first half against Mexico.

The Copa America champions lost their first game 2-1 to Saudi Arabia, and failed to impress during the first 45 minutes of their second game.

Speaking at half-time as one of the ITV World Cup pundits, former Manchester United captain Keane blasted Argentina's player as providing a spectacle you'd see in the English second tier.

"One goal in one and a half games, and that was a penalty. It's so poor, it's like watching a Championship side," fumed Keane.

"There's a real lack of quality. The manager's made five changes, but there's been no reaction to them... The supporters are doing all they can to get behind both teams.

"We need to see more quality from some outstanding players."

It seems as though Lionel Messi may have got the message – it took less than 20 minutes of the second half for the Argentina captain to get his name on the scoresheet and put his side ahead.

He wasn't the only one to criticise Argentina, though. Gary Neville also slammed their approach so far, asking: "Is this what Argentina are?" 

"They had a great run coming into the tournament, but you’ve watched them now for a game and a half and there doesn’t look like there’s anything there; there’s no pattern of play, there’s no rhythm in what they’re trying to do," Neville said.

Keane is, of course, known for his forthright views in the studios. Earlier this week, he and Graeme Souness entered a fiery discussion about the penalty decision that led to Messi's first goal of the World Cup.