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England vs Argentina LIVE: World Cup semi-final kick-off time, updates, build-up and team news
England has been called “invaders” and “usurping pirates” by Argentina’s vice-president in a bizarre rant of tonight’s World Cup semi-final.
Political tensions linger between Argentina and Great Britain over the Falkland Islands, which boiled over into conflict in 1982.
Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni said pre-match it would be “madness” to mix up sport and politics, but his nation’s vice-president Victoria Villarruel didn’t take the same viewpoint in a message on X.
“Tomorrow we play against the usurping pirates,” the post began. “This isn’t just another match. I’m not going to be politically correct or cold-hearted; against the English, it’s always something more.
“It’s the Malvinas, it’s Diego, it’s Leo’s last one, and it’s putting the brakes on the invaders. Go Argentina! Because until our last breath, we’re going to claim what’s ours!”
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