“Y ya lo ve, y ya lo ve. El que no salta, Es un ingles!”“And now you see, and now you see, whoever doesn’t jump is English.”It is one of the most common chants among Argentina’s football fans and players. It follows the team wherever it goes, regardless of the opposition. Argentina supporters sing it from the stands. Players join in after victories. It has become part of Argentina’s football identity.England need not even be the opposition for Argentina supporters to chant this slogan. However, as Argentina prepare to face the Three Lions in the FIFA World Cup 2026 semi-final on Thursday (IST) in Atlanta, those words will carry more hostility and emotion.Argentina vs England is a rivalry that stretches across 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 against England for the first time, as defending champions Argentina try to stop Thomas Tuchel’s England from reaching their first World Cup final since 1966.It is a rivalry that began in 1962 and has since produced controversy, red cards, and some iconic goals.Political tensions and military conflicts, especially those surrounding the Falklands War in 1982, continue to influence the relationship between the two football-frenzied nations. Argentina’s players and supporters still reference the conflict in football songs.After Argentina defeated Switzerland in the quarter-finals, celebrations continued inside the dressing room. Videos shared by the Argentina Football Association showed the squad singing together. One chant honoured Diego Maradona and Lionel Messi while also referring to the Falkland Islands.“Por Malvinas, por el Diego, por la ultima de Leo.”“For the Malvinas, for Diego, for Leo’s last one (tournament).”Las Malvinas is the name used in Argentina for the Falkland Islands, a British territory around 300 miles (480 km) off Argentina’s east coast.The two countries fought a war over the islands in 1982. The conflict lasted 74 days and ended with Argentina’s surrender. 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 international football’s fiercest rivalryIt is a rivalry shaped by decades of bitterness, where football and history have often collided.The first meeting in World Cup came in 1962, but the rivalry truly 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 gave England a 3-0 lead before Argentina scored a late consolation.Both teams finished the group stage with one win, one draw and one defeat, but England advanced on goal difference.England were later knocked out by Brazil in the quarter-finals.1966: England 1-0 Argentina (Wembley, England – Quarter-final)This remains the only World Cup England have won.The quarter-final is still remembered in Argentina as a match they believe they were robbed off, with claims that Geoff Hurst’s winning goal was offside.That was not the only controversy in the game.Argentina captain Antonio Rattin was sent off in the 33rd minute after two offences in three minutes. He refused to leave the field, delaying the match by almost eight minutes.England eventually won a tense contest.After the match, England manager Alf Ramsey described Argentina as “animals” and instructed his players not to exchange shirts.The game also played a role in the later introduction of yellow and red cards, highlighting the need for better control of such heated contests.1986: Argentina 2-1 England (Mexico City, Mexico – Quarter-final)Played four years after the Falklands War, this remains the defining chapter of the rivalry. Diego Maradona scored the infamous “Hand of God” goal by punching the ball past Peter Shilton, before producing the “Goal of the Century” just four minutes later with a solo run through the England defence. Argentina went on to lift 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 kicking Diego Simeone.Gabriel Batistuta and Alan Shearer exchanged penalties before Michael Owen scored one of England’s best World Cup goals after a solo run.Argentina levelled before half-time through Javier Zanetti.England still pushed Argentina after Beckham’s red card and even thought Sol Campbell had scored the winner before the goal was ruled out.Argentina eventually progressed after winning the penalty shootout.2002: Argentina 0-1 England (Sapporo, Japan – Group Stage)Four years later, Beckham got his chance for redemption.England won after Beckham converted a penalty awarded following Mauricio Pochettino’s foul on Michael Owen.England later defeated Denmark before losing to Brazil in the quarter-finals. Messi gets the England date football had been waiting for Lionel Messi has achieved almost everything in football. He has won the World Cup, two Copa America titles, multiple Champions League titles and almost every individual honour the sport offers. Yet he never faced England in his career.That changes on Thursday when Argentina meet England in the World Cup semi-final in Atlanta.The Argentina Football Association described it as “the match fate owed Messi.”Many of Argentina’s iconic No. 10s have experienced this rivalry before him. Antonio Rattin did. Diego Maradona made it his own. Ariel Ortega experienced it too.Messi now gets his turn, at the twilight of his career.And so, 24 years after England and Argentina last met at a World Cup, one of football’s fiercest rivalries returns.For Messi, this will be his first game against England. For Argentina’s fans, from Buenos Aires to every corner of the world, they will hope it is not his last in an Argentina shirt.
