The upcoming World Cup semi-final in Atlanta will feature England and Argentina, reigniting a long-standing football rivalry. This match is set to be a significant event, with Lionel Messi, the World Cup‘s record scorer, aiming to lead Argentina back to the final. The encounter will be the first between these two footballing nations in 21 years.
The rivalry between England and Argentina stretches back generations, marked by dramatic moments, controversies, and remarkable goals. Beyond the pitch, political tensions, particularly from the 1980s Falklands War, have also influenced the relationship between the two countries, with Argentina fans and players still referencing the conflict in their football songs.
Early Encounters and Controversies
The first World Cup meeting between England and Argentina 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, while Argentina managed a late consolation goal. Both teams finished the group stage with similar records, but England advanced to the quarter-finals due to a superior goal difference, where they were subsequently eliminated by Brazil.
The rivalry intensified significantly in the 1966 quarter-final at Wembley, a match still contentious for Argentina. England won 1-0, with Geoff Hurst scoring the decisive goal, which Argentina claims was offside. The game was marred by controversy, notably when Argentina captain Antonio Rattin was sent off after 33 minutes for two offences within three minutes. His refusal to leave the pitch led to an almost eight-minute delay.
Following the match, England manager Alf Ramsey controversially described the Argentina team as ‘animals’ and prevented his players from swapping shirts. This match is also believed to have contributed to the introduction of red and yellow cards in football, first used in the 1970 World Cup. Rattin, who played for Argentina in the 1962 and 1966 World Cups, passed away at the age of 89 on Saturday.
The Hand of God and Other Memorable Moments
The 1986 quarter-final in Mexico City, played four years after the Falklands War, became one of the most iconic and controversial matches in the rivalry’s history. Argentina defeated England 2-1. The game featured Diego Maradona‘s infamous ‘Hand of God’ goal, where he punched 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 scoring.
Gary Lineker scored a late goal for England, but it was not enough to prevent their elimination. Argentina went on to win the World Cup that year. Maradona did not apologise for the ‘Hand of God’ goal until 2005, an apology that Shilton reportedly rejected.
The 1998 World Cup last-16 match in St Etienne, France, saw another dramatic encounter, ending in a 2-2 draw before Argentina won 4-3 on penalties. This game is widely remembered for David Beckham‘s red card after he kicked out at Diego Simeone. Earlier in the match, Gabriel Batistuta and Alan Shearer exchanged penalties, and Michael Owen scored a notable solo goal to give England a 2-1 lead, before Javier Zanetti equalised for Argentina.
Despite playing with 10 men, England battled on, and Sol Campbell had a header disallowed in the 81st minute. Argentina ultimately prevailed in the penalty shootout, with David Batty and Paul Ince missing for England. Simeone later admitted that the referee ‘fell into the trap’ regarding Beckham‘s red card, suggesting a yellow card would have been more appropriate.
Redemption and Recent History
The 2002 World Cup group stage match in Sapporo, Japan, offered England a chance for redemption. England secured a 1-0 victory, with then-captain David Beckham scoring the only goal from a penalty after Michael Owen was fouled by Mauricio Pochettino. This win was crucial for England, especially after drawing their opening group game against Sweden.
England progressed from the group stage, while Argentina were eliminated before the knockout rounds for the first time since 1962. England went on to beat Denmark in the last 16 before being knocked out by Brazil in the quarter-finals. The upcoming semi-final in Atlanta marks the next chapter in this enduring rivalry.
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Source: bbc.com
