World Cup semi-final: England vs Argentina revives 60-year feud from Hand of God to Falklands

The roots of a football feud

When England and Argentina kick off in the Atlanta Stadium, a 60-year antagonism will be renewed. The rivalry began at the 1966 World Cup quarter-final, when Argentine captain Antonio Rattín was sent off after prolonged dissent and refused to leave for ten minutes, crushing an English flag on his way. England's manager Alf Ramsey then barred shirt-swapping and branded the Argentines "animals". The chaos prompted FIFA to introduce yellow and red cards.

Although we said before the game that football had nothing to do with the Falklands war, we knew many Argentine kids had died there, shot down like little birds. This was revenge.

War adds a political dimension

The sporting dislike mutated after Argentina's 1982 invasion of the Falkland Islands, a British overseas territory. The 74-day war cost the lives of 649 Argentine and 255 British soldiers, and Argentina's surrender remains an open wound. In 1986, four years after the war, Diego Maradona's "Hand of God" goal and solo masterpiece in the quarter-final gave Argentina a 2-1 win that was widely cast as symbolic payback. Subsequent encounters added chapters: David Beckham's red card and England's penalty shootout defeat in 1998, then Beckham's spot-kick winner that eliminated Argentina in the 2002 group stage.

Messi and Kane: the modern difference-makers

Argentina still leans on Lionel Messi, whose first non-Messi goal of the tournament arrived only in the third group match. Messi scored in the round of 16 against Cape Verde and the quarter-final against Egypt, but The Athletic notes he walks for 63% of his time on the pitch, conserving energy for moments of brilliance. England counters with captain Harry Kane, the nation's all-time top scorer with 84 international goals and six in this tournament. His late double rescued the round of 16 tie, and his goal shortly after Jarrel Quansah's red card steadied England in a 3-2 quarter-final win over Mexico. Jude Bellingham also has six goals, including both in the extra-time quarter-final victory over Norway.

He is a unique player with fantastic character.

Off-field tensions and security fears

After Argentina's quarter-final win against Switzerland, players danced and sang "La cuarta estrella" ("The Fourth Star") in the dressing room. The lyrics mention "For Malvinas, for Diego, for Leo's last dance", prompting debate about whether FIFA's ban on political statements had been violated. The Falklands claim is anchored in Argentina's constitution, and monuments in Buenos Aires commemorate the fallen. The police in Atlanta classified the semi-final as the highest risk category, guarding team hotels and boosting presence around venues. Argentine war veterans published an appeal: "Sport is not war", urging restraint. London, meanwhile, reaffirmed that the islands are British and their inhabitants have the right to self-determination.

The song "La cuarta estrella">For Malvinas, for Diego, for Leo's last dance.

The road to Atlanta

Both teams reached the semi-final after nervy knockout ties. England trailed until Kane's late double in the round of 16, then had to play over 35 minutes with ten men against Mexico before Bellingham and Kane secured a 3-2 win. Argentina required extra time and a late rally to beat ten-man Switzerland. The head-to-head history, from Rattín's expulsion to Maradona's hand and Beckham's redemption, ensures the match in the climate-controlled stadium will be followed far beyond the football world.