A long-standing football rivalry between England and Argentina is set to be renewed in Atlanta on Wednesday, as the two nations face off in a World Cup semi-final. This encounter marks the first time Lionel Messi will play against England in his career. The match is highly anticipated, with Argentina, the defending champions, aiming to reach the final, while Thomas Tuchel‘s Three Lions seek to end a significant wait for a major trophy.
The rivalry between these two footballing powerhouses extends beyond the pitch, influenced by political tensions, particularly the Falklands War in the 1980s. This historical context continues to be referenced in football songs by Argentina fans and players.
A Rivalry Forged Over Decades
The World Cup rivalry between England and Argentina began in 1962 and has since been marked by memorable goals, controversies, and red cards. Despite the intense nature of their encounters, England holds a slight edge in their five World Cup meetings, though it has been some time since they secured a victory in a truly decisive match.
The most recent World Cup fixture between the two teams was in 2002, meaning many younger fans may not recall the historical intensity of the rivalry. The upcoming semi-final will reignite this storied contest.
Early Encounters and Controversies
The first World Cup meeting took place in 1962 in Rancagua, Chile, during the group stage. England secured a 3-1 victory with goals from Ron Flowers, Bobby Charlton, and Jimmy Greaves, ultimately progressing at Argentina‘s expense due to a superior goal difference. England‘s journey in that tournament concluded in the quarter-finals against Brazil.
The rivalry intensified significantly in the 1966 quarter-final at Wembley, where England won 1-0. This match is still a point of contention for Argentina, who claim Geoff Hurst‘s winning goal was offside. The game was marred by controversy, including the sending off of Argentina captain Antonio Rattin after just 33 minutes for two offences. Rattin‘s refusal to leave the pitch led to an eight-minute delay. England manager Alf Ramsey famously described the Argentine side as ‘animals’ following the ill-tempered affair, refusing to allow his players to swap shirts.
This particular match is also credited with influencing the introduction of red and yellow cards, which were first implemented in the 1970 World Cup in Mexico to provide clearer disciplinary actions than verbal warnings.
The Hand of God and Beyond
The 1986 quarter-final in Mexico City, played four years after the Falklands War, was perhaps the most iconic and controversial encounter. Diego Maradona scored two goals for Argentina in their 2-1 victory. The first, famously dubbed ‘The Hand of God,’ saw Maradona punch the ball past England goalkeeper Peter Shilton. Just four minutes later, Maradona scored what many consider the ‘Goal of the Century,’ dribbling past multiple England players before finding the net. Gary Lineker scored a late consolation goal for England, but it was not enough. Argentina went on to win the World Cup that year.
The 1998 World Cup Round of 16 match in St Etienne, France, was another dramatic affair. The game ended 2-2, with Argentina winning 4-3 on penalties. This match is remembered for David Beckham‘s red card after he kicked out at Diego Simeone. Earlier, Gabriel Batistuta and Alan Shearer exchanged penalties, and Michael Owen scored a memorable solo goal for England, only for Javier Zanetti to level the score before half-time. Sol Campbell had a late goal disallowed for England, and Argentina ultimately prevailed in the penalty shootout.
Redemption and a New Chapter
In 2002, England and Argentina met again in the group stage in Sapporo, Japan. This match provided a measure of redemption for David Beckham, who scored the only goal from the penalty spot after Michael Owen was fouled by Mauricio Pochettino. This crucial 1-0 victory helped England progress from their group, while Argentina was eliminated before the knockout stages for the first time since 1962. England advanced to the quarter-finals, where they were defeated by Brazil.
The upcoming semi-final in Atlanta marks the first fixture between the two nations in 21 years, with their last meeting being a friendly in Geneva in 2005, which England won 3-2. Lionel Messi, who was suspended for that friendly, will now lead Argentina in this highly anticipated World Cup clash.
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Source: bbc.com
