A group of Argentina fans were filmed burning the Union Jack ahead of the World Cup semi-final against England, as the footage sparked mockery online over the use of the wrong flag
A group of Argentina supporters have burnt a Union Jack flag on the eve of Wednesday’s World Cup semi-final with England. The pre-match hostility looks set to increase after a select number of Argentine fans set the Great British colours alight on the outskirts of Buenos Aires in Escobar.
The two teams meet in Atlanta on Wednesday with Thomas Tuchel’s side pushing to end the defending champions’ pursuit of retaining their crown. The history on and off the pitch between England and Argentina is threatening to spill over as they meet for the first time since the 2002 World Cup, where David Beckham’s penalty was the difference.
Cheers ring out from the gathered crowd as the flames begin to take hold. Several onlookers can also be seen leaping up and down while chanting: “He who doesn’t jump is an Englishman.”
The clip is believed to have been filmed following Argentina’s victory over Switzerland on Saturday evening, with the Three Lions having already secured their own semi-final berth earlier that day. The reigning World Cup champions haven’t faced England since a 2005 friendly.
While the two nations share considerable history on the football pitch, there is no shortage of tension off it either. The Union Jack featured prominently as a symbol carried by British troops during the Falklands War and remains part of the current flag of the Falkland Islands.
The historical narrative surrounding the game has overshadowed proceedings in the build-up to the game with the FBI, officials and local police deeming the showdown as the “highest risk” fixture at this summer’s tournament.
The footage of the burning flag drew widespread bemusement, given that England, of course, fly the St George’s Cross. On social media, one user questioned: “Are they that dumb or what?”
Another remarked: “Burning the flag of Great Britain thinking it’s England’s just proves that the biggest enemy of the Argentine isn’t the English, it’s the geography book.”
Following their 3-1 extra-time victory over Switzerland, Argentina’s players were captured on film singing about the Falkland Islands (Las Malvinas). “For the Malvinas, for Diego [Maradona], for Leo’s [Lionel Messi] last one,” they sang inside their dressing room.
However, Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni doesn’t want his squad to become swept up in the emotion of the fixture. “The message is this is a football game” Scaloni affirmed at a press conference.
“That is what I can say. We will be playing against a very tough opponent, they have an excellent coach, it is a football game and that is all.”
Meanwhile, Argentina forward Jose Lopez said: “Obviously, inside and outside the four lines of the pitch it’s a match that has a lot of history there, a lot of pain and a lot of things behind it.
“I think we are professionals and we’re going to play it like we play every game: until the last second, leaving our lives on the field.”
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