Malvinas and the Hand of God: why England and Argentina’s rivalry still crackles | OneFootball

England and Argentina meet at 21:00 on Wednesday in the World Cup semi-final at Atlanta Stadium, a fixture freighted with history on and off the pitch.

Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni has said it is only a football match, yet the rivalry stretches far beyond. According to Le Progres, a fan song echoed by players talks of a fourth star, the Malvinas, Diego Maradona and Lionel Messi.

April 1982 saw Argentina’s military land on the South Atlantic islands, under British sovereignty since the 19th century. The UK, led by Margaret Thatcher, hit back quickly, more than 900 died and British victory sped the junta’s collapse. Argentina still claims the archipelago in its Constitution, while London cites a 2013 referendum in which locals overwhelmingly backed remaining British.

On the pitch, flashpoints preceded 1982. In 1966 a fractious quarter-final saw England manager Alf Ramsey call Argentina’s players animals. In 1986 Maradona scored with his hand, then produced the goal of the century.

Subsequent clashes kept the heat, England went out on penalties in 1998 after David Beckham was sent off, then won in the 2002 group stage. At this World Cup Argentina have been cleared to wear their dark blue strip for the semi-final, the shade used 40 years ago.

Source: Le Progres