As the anticipation builds for match 102, the upcoming World Cup semi-final pitting England against Argentina has inevitably stirred memories of the 1982 Falklands/Malvinas conflict. During Lionel Scaloni’s recent press conference, he dismissed any connection to the past, stating emphatically, “This is just a football match. Let’s not look for other stuff. It’s a football game against a great team, with a great manager who I admire. But it’s a football match. End of.”
Rodrigo De Paul, an Argentine midfielder, echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the importance of treating the match as a sporting event.
“We understand it’s a football game that transcends; it brings back memories of what Diego did. We sing songs about our Malvinas heroes, mainly to remember them, but we have to understand that it’s a football match and that the Malvinas have to be discussed elsewhere. What happened was an atrocity and we always remember the fallen, but what we want is to win this match to get to the final.”
De Paul’s reference to “maybe it was the hand of God” alludes to Diego Maradona’s iconic moments during the 1986 World Cup quarter-final against England, where he infamously scored two contrasting goals: one via the controversial ‘Hand of God’ and the other through an extraordinary solo run. These moments showcased the beauty and complexity of football, leaving an indelible mark on the sport’s history.
In the aftermath of the game, Maradona humorously suggested he hadn’t touched the ball with his hand, quipping, “felt good – like pickpocketing an Englishman” He later remarked that the goal “by two murderous governments” The narrative of retribution for the war resonated with many, but Maradona also remarked in 2014 about the conflict being driven by “Nobody hates war more than a soldier,”
During the 1986 World Cup in Mexico, a planned altercation occurred between Argentine barra bravas and English hooligans, with one participant being a veteran from the Falklands/Malvinas conflict. Years later, at a Boca Juniors versus River Plate match, I asked him whether being part of a firm was akin to military service. “This here is about love, beauty and joy. This has nothing to do with hate.” he replied, gesturing towards the fans. “We have a lot to thank the English for. They gave us Borges’s literature, and they gave us football.”
The esteemed Argentine author and sports commentator Juan Sasturain once remarked, “two bald men fighting over a comb” Borges, who had a profound admiration for English culture, passed away just a week before the memorable 1986 quarter-final. As the 40th anniversary of both his death and that fateful match approached, many sought to draw connections between Borges’s artistic brilliance and Maradona’s athletic prowess.
Borges characterized the Falklands conflict as “It’s the fixture where the Mexican wave doesn’t stand a chance,” and while he was not a football fan, some have noted a peculiar significance in the fact that Argentina’s decisive goal against Cape Verde in the World Cup was an own goal by a player named Diney Borges.
Matches between England and Argentina continue to leave a lasting impression, influencing how football is played, consumed, and perceived. Despite their differences, there is much that binds the two nations. “It’s the fixture where the Mexican wave doesn’t stand a chance,” former Argentine forward Jorge Valdano remarked in 1998, highlighting the match’s significance for both fan bases. That evening in Saint-Étienne, heightened security measures were put in place due to fears of violence, yet the anticipated chaos did not materialize.
The footballing history shared between these two nations is rich. In 1998, Michael Owen’s breathtaking solo run left spectators in awe, while David Beckham’s red card for responding to Diego Simeone’s provocation overshadowed the match. Beckham later found redemption in 2002, scoring a penalty that ensured Argentina’s early exit from the World Cup.
Under the guidance of Sven-Göran Eriksson, a psychologist advised players to avoid eye contact with their Argentine counterparts. Thus, when Simeone approached Beckham for a taunting handshake prior to the penalty, Beckham simply averted his gaze before scoring, leading to Argentina’s first group stage elimination in years.
The last encounter between the teams occurred in a friendly in Geneva in 2005, which ended in a victory for England. Walter Samuel and Roberto Ayala were Argentina’s central defenders on that day, but as Diego Borinsky, Scaloni’s biographer, notes, coach José Pékerman recognized during the match that Scaloni should eventually replace Javier Zanetti. Today, Scaloni leads a coaching team that includes Samuel, Ayala, and Pablo Aimar, focusing on camaraderie and the enjoyment of the game.
As both teams prepare for their matches in 2026, the passion and resilience of the players, along with their emotional connections to fans and teammates, are palpable.
After their quarter-final matches, both Scaloni and Thomas Tuchel remarked that while their teams were fortunate, there remained technical aspects to improve upon. Tuchel went as far as to say they possessed a mentality that could be bottled and sold.
While war, drama, and rivalry are indeed part of the intertwined narrative of England and Argentina, the enduring legacy also encompasses friendship, literature, and music. The excitement for match 102 is palpable.
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