Anticipation builds for semi-final
Anticipation is building for the World Cup semi-final match between England and Argentina. The Daily Express has encouraged its readers to support the England squad, while the Daily Mirror’s headline states, “You can do this.” The Sun has described the team as “Harry Kane’s brave band of heroes” and urged them to “bring it home.”
Argentina’s coach, Lionel Scaloni, has called for calm ahead of the match, emphasising that it is a football game against a formidable opponent with an excellent coach. This sentiment echoes comments made by Diego Maradona before the 1986 World Cup quarter-final, where he stated, “Es solo futbol, punto” (it’s only football, period).
A rivalry steeped in history
The encounter between England and Argentina is often viewed as more than just a football match, marked by a history of emotions, tensions, controversies, and bitter feuds. The rivalry includes significant past meetings, such as the 1986 World Cup quarter-final, where Maradona scored both a controversial goal and what became known as the “goal of the century” within four minutes.
The 1986 match saw Maradona use his hand to score a goal, which he later attributed to “the Hand of God.” This incident led to significant protests from England players, including goalkeeper Peter Shilton. Four minutes later, Maradona scored a goal that involved dribbling past several England defenders before finding the net. Bobby Robson, England’s manager at the time, described the handball goal as being scored with “the hand of a rascal.”
Another notable fixture occurred in 1998 during the round of 16, which ended in a 2-2 draw before Argentina won on penalties. This match featured David Beckham receiving a red card after an incident with Diego Simeone. Javier Zanetti, a former Argentina captain, recalled the match as an “unforgettable” long night that included extra time and penalties.
The animosity between the two nations extends beyond the pitch, with historical roots in British invasions of Argentina during the Napoleonic Wars and the ongoing dispute over the Falkland Islands. The 1982 conflict, which resulted in 907 casualties, predominantly Argentine soldiers, remains a sensitive point for Argentina. Maradona himself stated in his autobiography that his goals against England in 1986 were “revenge (…) for everything that happened,” referencing the Falklands War.
Messi’s first encounter with England
This semi-final will mark Lionel Messi’s playing against England. Despite this, Messi has a history of playing against Premier League clubs, having faced them in games, winning, losing, and scoring goals. His performances against English clubs include notable displays at Manchester City’s Etihad Stadium and Wembley Stadium against Tottenham.
His losses against English club teams have come against opponents known for their high tempo and physical pressure, particularly the robust Chelsea teams during and after the José Mourinho era.
The match is expected to be a contest of will and aura, with the broader narrative often seen as the culmination of Messi’s elite sporting career. The Argentina team is frequently described as playing for Messi, with a strong focus on his individual brilliance. This World Cup semi-final is set to add another layer to the complex and deeply felt rivalry between England and Argentina.
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Source: bbc.co.uk
