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“You love, you love. El que no salta, Es un ingles!”“And now you see, and now you see, whoever doesn’t jump is an Englishman.”It is one of the most common chants among Argentine soccer fans and players. He follows the team wherever he goes, regardless of the opponents. Argentina fans sing it from the stands. Players join after winning. It became part of the Argentine football identity.England doesn’t even have to be the opposition for Argentina fans to chant this slogan. However, as Argentina prepares to meet the Three Lions in FIFA World Cup 2026 in the semifinals on Thursday (IST) in Atlanta, those words will carry more hostility and emotion.Argentina vs. England is a rivalry that spans generations. It is rooted in football, history, politics and colonialism, and after more than two decades of international career, over 200 appearances and 125 goals, Lionel Messi will play England for the first time as defending champions Argentina try to stop Thomas Tuchel’s England reaching their first World Cup final since 1966.It’s a rivalry that began in 1962 and has since produced controversy, red cards and some iconic goals.Political tensions and military conflicts, particularly those surrounding the 1982 Falklands War, continue to affect the relationship between the two football-obsessed nations. Argentine players and fans still refer to the conflict in football songs.After Argentina defeated Switzerland in the quarter-finals, the celebration continued in the dressing room. Videos shared by the Argentine Football Association show the team singing together. One song paid tribute to Diego Maradona and Lionel Messi and also referred to the Falkland Islands.“Por Malvinas, por el Diego, por la ultima de Leo.”“For the Malvinas, for Diego, for Leo’s last (tournament).”Las Malvinas is the name used in Argentina for the Falkland Islands, a British territory about 300 miles (480 km) off the east coast of Argentina.The two countries fought a war over the island in 1982. The conflict lasted 74 days and ended with the surrender of Argentina. A total of 649 Argentine military personnel, 255 British military personnel and three Falkland Islanders were killed, while more than 2,300 others were injured.Even today, the Falklands remain a symbol of nationalism in Argentina.A look at the fiercest rivalry in international footballThis rivalry is shaped by decades of bitterness, where football and history have often collided.The first meeting at the World Cup took place in 1962, but the rivalry really intensified four years later.1962: England 3-1 Argentina (Rancagua, Chile – Group Stage)Compared to what followed, this match was relatively calm.Goals from Ron Flowers, Bobby Charlton and Jimmy Greaves put England 3-0 up before Argentina grabbed a late consolation.Both teams finished the group stage with one win, one draw and one loss, but England progressed on goal difference.England were later knocked out by Brazil in the quarter-finals.1966: England 1-0 Argentina (Wembley, England – quarter-finals)This remains the only World Cup that England has won.The quarter-final is still remembered in Argentina as a game they believe was stolen from them, with claims that Geoff Hurst’s winning goal was offside.That wasn’t the only controversy in the game.Argentina captain Antonio Rattin was sent off in the 33rd minute after two fouls in three minutes. He refused to leave the field, prolonging the game for almost eight minutes.England won a tense game in the end.After the game, England manager Alf Ramsey described Argentina as “animals” and told his players not to change their shirts.The game also played a role in the subsequent introduction of yellow and red cards, highlighting the need for better control of such fierce contests.1986: Argentina 2-1 England (Mexico City, Mexico – quarter-finals)Played four years after the Falklands War, this remains a key chapter in the rivalry. Diego Maradona scored the infamous “Hand of God” goal by flicking the ball past Peter Shilton, before scoring the “goal of the century” just four minutes later with a solo run through the England defence. Argentina won the World Cup.1998: Argentina 2-2 England (Argentina won 4-3 on penalties) (Saint-Étienne, France – Round of 16)The match is remembered for David Beckham’s red card after he hit Diego Simeone.Gabriel Batistuta and Alan Shearer exchanged penalties before Michael Owen scored one of England’s best World Cup goals after a solo drive.Argentina equalized before halftime through Javier Zanetti.England continued to push Argentina after Beckham’s red card and even thought Sol Campbell had scored the winner before the goal was ruled out.Argentina eventually advanced after winning on penalties.2002: Argentina 0-1 England (Sapporo, Japan – group stage)Four years later, Beckham got a chance at redemption.England won after Beckham converted a penalty awarded after Mauricio Pochettino’s foul on Michael Owen.England later defeated Denmark before losing to Brazil in the quarter-finals. Messi gets the date in England that football has been waiting for Lionel Messi has achieved almost everything in football. He won the World Cup, two Copa America titles, multiple Champions League titles and almost every single honor the sport has to offer. However, he has never faced England in his career.That changes on Thursday when Argentina meet England in the World Cup semi-finals in Atlanta.The Argentine Football Association described it as “a match that destiny owed to Messi”.Many of Argentina’s legendary number 10s have experienced this rivalry before him. It’s Antonio Rattin. Diego Maradona made it his own. Ariel Ortega experienced it too.Now it’s Messi’s turn, at the end of his career.And so, 24 years after England and Argentina last met at the World Cup, one of football’s fiercest rivalries returns.This will be Messi’s first game against England. For Argentina fans, from Buenos Aires to all corners of the world, they hope this is not his last time in the Argentina jersey.
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