Argentina’s national football team, after defeating Switzerland 3-1, celebrated by singing 'The Fourth Star,' the country’s unofficial World Cup anthem, chanting 'For Malvinas, for Diego'—referencing the Falkland Islands and Diego Maradona. This set the stage for Wednesday’s World Cup semi-final against England, a fixture steeped in political and historical tension.
Historical Context: From War to 'Hand of God'
Almost four decades after the 1982 Falklands War and Maradona’s 'Hand of God' goal in the 1986 World Cup quarter-final, the rivalry remains charged. Pablo Quintana, the musician who wrote the anthem, said, 'Behind the Argentina team, there are people who still carry pain, who don’t want to forget their history, and who want to win on the football pitch.' Aldo Leiva, a Falklands war veteran and congressman, noted, 'The 1986 match was a balm for everyone who had lived through the war. Football has rules and referees. There was none of that in the war.'
Emotional Weight Beyond Football
Uruguayan journalist Victor Hugo Morales, whose commentary of the 1986 match became iconic, said memories were 'reverberating.' He stated, 'Argentina versus England has become a classic. Since 1986, it has carried a political and emotional weight that goes far beyond football.' The match is seen as a form of vindication for many Argentines, especially given the sinking of the cruiser General Belgrano by British forces, which killed 323 crew members.
Media and Political Provocations
Argentinian media have amplified the symbolism. Crónica TV used captions like 'Argentina vs. the English pirates' and 'Diego, give us a hand.' Sports daily Olé highlighted a 'good omen'—Argentina wearing blue, as in 1986. Godoy Cruz football club hung banners taken from England fans during the 2014 World Cup, seen as a provocation. The rivalry also coincides with far-right President Javier Milei’s praise for Margaret Thatcher, whom Morales said makes an England defeat 'a political rebuke to Milei.'
Falklands in National Identity
Daniel Filmus, former secretary of Falklands matters, said the claim for the islands is embedded in Argentina’s national identity. 'The feelings many Argentines have about the Malvinas are expressed in football chants. Both the anthem from the last World Cup and this year’s song include references to the islands.' He added, 'Argentina is one of the few countries that, nearly 200 years after losing territory, still keeps that claim alive.'
British Media and Reactions
In the UK, the match has brought the Falklands war back into headlines. The Daily Telegraph reported Foreign Minister Pablo Quirno’s comments calling Falklands Islanders an 'artificially implanted' population. Gary Lineker faced criticism for using the name 'Malvinas' on his podcast, with TalkTV’s Mark Dolan calling him a 'woke fool.' The Sun quoted midfielder Leandro Paredes: 'We know what the game against England means for our country, but it’s a game of football and we’ll try to address it in the best way.'
