Despite coaches trying to downplay the bitter rivalry between Argentina and England, Albiceleste players were filmed celebrating their quarterfinal victory over Switzerland with traditional anti-English chants, as well as new chants promising a win “for the Malvinas, for Diego, and for Leo’s last.”WC 1962: Group Stage – ENG 3 ARG 1BIGGEST WIN IN THE RIVALRY: Argentina and England first met at the FIFA World Cup in the 1962 edition in Chile, where England secured a 3-1 group-stage victory that sent Argentina crashing out of the tournament. The result remains England’s biggest winning margin over Argentina in World Cup history and is also their joint-largest victory in all meetings between the two sides, alongside the 3-1 friendly win at Wembley in 1980.WC 1966: QF – ENG 1 ARG 0THE DAY RATTIN WAS SENT OFF: In 1966, the two met in a World Cup quarterfinal match when England were hosting the tournament. Antonio Rattin, then the Argentine captain, was expelled from the pitch. He grabbed at a corner flag featuring the British flag as he left, and then sat on a red carpet intended for Queen Elizabeth, refusing to walk away. English fans threw cans of beer at him, he later said. Tempers on the pitch ran high throughout the game, which ended 1-0 to England, the eventual tournament winners. England manager Alf Ramsey notoriously referred to the Argentina players afterwards as “animals”. It is an insult that Argentina has never forgotten. The recent death of Antonio Rattín has renewed historical grievances.WC 1986: QF – ARG 2 ENG 1HAND OF GOD, AND THE BEAUTIFUL GOAL: Twenty years later, at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, the two sides met again in the World Cup. The match was fueled by high political tension, taking place just four years after the 1982 Falklands/Malvinas War. Maradona scored his infamous “Hand of God” goal, using his hand to punch the ball past English goalkeeper Peter Shilton — an infraction that went unnoticed by officials. Minutes later, Maradona scored a legendary second goal after an extraordinary mazy run, dribbling past half the England team. To Maradona and to many Argentines, it was not cheating. It was a triumph of the underdog over the elite. Maradona later admitted in his autobiography that the victory felt like direct revenge for the Argentine soldiers who died in the war. WC 1998: Rd of 16 – ENG 2 ARG 2 (Argentina won via penalty shootout)BECKHAM GETS THE BLAME: There was another infamous sending-off in a round of 16 clash. David Beckham, having excelled at his first World Cup, was dismissed for kicking out at Diego Simeone. England battled to a 2-2 draw with 10 men, only to lose on penalties after Paul Ince and David Batty missed. This clash will also be remembered for teenager Michael Owen’s wonder goal but Beckham became a scapegoat for the defeat back in England.WC 2002: Group stage – ENG 1 ARG 0REDEMPTION SONG: Four years later, there was some redemption for Beckham. After Michael Owen was tripped by future Spurs manager Mauricio Pochettino, Beckham blasted home from the spot — the only goal of the game.
