England-Argentina Is A Rivalry Rooted In Ghosts, Thorns And Legends

England-Argentina is portrayed as a rivalry shaped by long-running historical conflicts rather than a single event, with the article tracing how football intensity grew across decades. It notes that after Argentina’s quarter-final win over Switzerland and England’s victory over Norway, both teams meet on Wednesday in Atlanta for a World Cup semifinal, described as a clash of past and present. The piece says the encounter will mark Lionel Messi’s first meeting against England’s team, while emphasizing that animosity dates back to 1962 and intensified in 1966. It recalls that England won the World Cup in 1966 and references a notorious 1966 quarter-final in which Argentina’s captain Antonio Rattín was sent off, with England coach Alf Ramsey allegedly calling opponents “animals” and deciding against shirt swaps. The article also mentions that 1986 in Mexico brought Diego Maradona and continued the rivalry’s dramatic storyline.