England vs Argentina: Rivalry and Rematch at the FIFA World Cup

Glimpses of the World Cup clashes between England and Argentina. (Photo by Reuters) Despite the coaches trying to play down the bitter rivalry between Argentina and England, the Albiceleste players were filmed celebrating the quarter-final win over Switzerland with traditional anti-England 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 RIVALRY WIN: Argentina and England first met at the 1962 FIFA World Cup in Chile, where England secured a 3–1 victory in the group stage, knocking Argentina out of the tournament. The result remains England’s biggest margin of victory over Argentina in World Cup history and is also their joint-biggest win in all meetings between the two sides, alongside a 3-1 friendly win at Wembley in 1980.WC 1966: QF – ENG 1 ARG 0THE DAY THE RATTIN WAS SENT: In 1966, the two met in a World Cup quarter-final match when England hosted the tournament. Antonio Rattin, Argentina’s captain at the time, was sent off. As he left, he grabbed a corner banner with the British flag and then sat down on the red carpet meant for Queen Elizabeth and refused to leave. England fans threw beer cans at him, he said later. Spirits on the pitch were high throughout the match which ended 1-0 to eventual tournament winners England. England manager Alf Ramsey then notoriously referred to Argentina’s players as “animals”. It’s an insult that Argentina has never forgotten. The recent death of Antonio Rattín has renewed historical grievances.WC 1986: QF – ARG 2 ENG 1THE HAND 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 tensions, taking place just four years after the Falklands and Malvinas War in 1982. Maradona scored his infamous “Hand of God” goal by palming the ball past England goalkeeper Peter Shilton – an offense that went unnoticed by the officials. Minutes later, Maradona scored the legendary second goal after an extraordinary errant run as he dribbled through half of the England team. For Maradona and many Argentinians, it was not a hoax. It was the triumph of the underdog over the elite. Maradona later admitted in his autobiography that he felt the victory was a direct revenge for the Argentine soldiers who died in the war. WC 1998: Rd of 16 – ENG 2 ARG 2 (Argentina won on penalties)BECKHAM is to blame: Another infamous elimination occurred in the round of 16. David Beckham, who excelled in his first World Cup, was sent off for kicking Diego Simeone. England battled back with 10 men to draw 2-2 but lost on penalties after Paul Ince and David Batty missed. The clash will also be remembered for teenager Michael Owen’s wonder goal, but Beckham was scapegoated for England’s defeat.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 fired home – the only goal of the game – from the spot.