Argentina football fans have sparked widespread online ridicule after setting fire to Union Jacks in the streets ahead of their World Cup semi-final showdown with England, mistakenly burning the flag of the United Kingdom instead of England's St George's Cross.
Extraordinary footage captured supporters in Escobar, Buenos Aires province, lighting a Union Jack on fire while celebrating Argentina's place in the last four of the tournament. The video shows a group of fans igniting the flag before lifting it into the air as nearby crowds erupt in cheers. As the flames spread, jubilant supporters can be seen bouncing up and down while chanting: "He who doesn't jump is an Englishman." Within moments, the flag is completely destroyed, leaving only a pile of ashes.
Social Media Reaction
The clip quickly spread across social media, where viewers reacted with a mix of disbelief and amusement. Many England fans were quick to highlight that the supporters had targeted the wrong flag. The flag shown being burned was a Union Jack, which represents the United Kingdom, rather than the St George's Cross used by England's national football team.
One user wrote: "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." Another added: "Are they that dumb or what?"
World Cup Context
The scenes unfolded just hours after Argentina sealed a dramatic 3-1 victory over Switzerland to book their place in the World Cup semi-finals. England also secured a spot in the final four earlier the same day after defeating Norway 2-1. The two nations are now set to face off at the 75,000-seat Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta on Wednesday night, with a place in the World Cup final at stake.
