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The tension between Argentina and England went beyond sports, reaching other levels after Argentine Vice President Victoria Villarruel referred to the English as "usurping pirates" in relation to the sovereignty of the Malvinas Islands. Her statements went viral quickly and ignited conversation on social media just before the highly anticipated semifinal match between both teams in the 2026 World Cup.
Why do Argentina and England have such a strong rivalry? The enmity combines sporting, historical, and political factors. On the footballing front, both have starred in some of the most memorable matches in World Cup history. In the political realm, the dispute over the Malvinas Islands remains a sensitive issue for both governments and a large part of their societies.
It is for these reasons that Villarruel's words caused controversy among fans, politicians, and the general public, especially as they arose amidst the polemic surrounding Messi and Argentina, who, according to internet users, are allegedly being favored by FIFA to reach the final and take home the Cup.
¿Qué dijo la vicepresidenta de Argentina?
Through her social media accounts and ahead of the Argentina vs. England match, the Vice President referred to the English in a derogatory manner, calling them "usurping pirates": "Tomorrow we play against the usurping pirates. It is not just another match. I am not going to be politically correct or faint-hearted; against the English, it is always something more. It is the Malvinas, it is Diego, it is Leo's last one, and it is standing up to the invaders. Go Argentina! Because until the last breath, we will claim what is ours!" she wrote.
The phrase spread rapidly on social media and was picked up by international media and thousands of internet users around the world, who made all kinds of comments, the majority of which were disapproving: "I do not agree with this. Sports must be depoliticized, the opposite of this comment. We don't want political comments contaminating the world of sports," "It's just a football match, don't put problems on the athletes that politicians cannot solve," "Respect above all, let's not repeat hate speech," "Terrible message to send in these times," and "Ma'am, it is a football match, don't be irresponsible, don't taint the ball, sporting rivalry is normal. Did you know that many players on the Argentine national team have nephews and even children born in Great Britain? The political issue of the Malvinas is discussed in the political field."
To these comments, the Vice President of Argentina replied that she did not agree and reiterated that the English were "pirates," "enemies," and an "invading nation." "How can we not mention that these people invaded our land, killed Argentines to uphold that invasion, and today continue to merrily cross our sea without asking for permission and using and abusing our resources, and that no one says it?" Villarruel added.
The football rivalry between Argentina and England is one of the most intense in sports and is marked by historical episodes such as:
- El partido de los cuartos de final del Mundial de 1986.
- El gol conocido como "La Mano de Dios", de Diego Maradona.
- El llamado "Gol del Siglo", anotado por el propio Maradona en ese mismo encuentro.
¿Qué son las Islas Malvinas?
The Malvinas Islands (known in English as the Falkland Islands) are an archipelago located in the South Atlantic. Argentina claims sovereignty over them, while the United Kingdom administers the territory. The dispute remains unresolved and continues to be addressed in international forums.
[Publicidad]