From the Falklands War to Maradona: why Argentina vs England is soccer’s fiercest rivalry

Argentina and England will face off in a World Cup semi-final after Argentina's three-to-one victory over Switzerland and England's two-to-one win against Norway. But this matchup, per The Conversation, carries weight far beyond the pitch — the rivalry is rooted in the nineteen eighty-two Falkland Islands War and colonial history, with British settlers having founded Argentina's major football clubs in the nineteenth century. Ahead of the match in Atlanta, security has been heightened following violent confrontations between supporters in Miami. Argentine chants invoke both football glory and national grievances, referencing Maradona and the disputed Falkland Islands, known as the Malvinas. The rivalry has defined pivotal moments in their history, from Maradona's controversial nineteen eighty-six 'Hand of God' goal to the nineteen ninety-eight controversy surrounding David Beckham's red card. These two teams carry their nations' fractured history onto the field.

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