England and Argentina will meet in a competitive match for the first time in 24 years as they prepare to renew their rivalry in the World Cup semi-finals in Atlanta on Wednesday.
Diego Maradona’s son hits back at Lionel Scaloni (Image: TIZIANA FABI/AFP via Getty Images)
Diego Maradona Jr. has insisted that Wednesday’s semi-final between Argentina and England will not be a normal match, contradicting the views of La Albiceleste coach Lionel Scaloni. The Three Lions will play a South American opponent for the first time since 2005 for a place in the World Cup finals.
These two rivals have not faced each other in an official match since the 2002 World Cup. England won 1-0 in the group stage thanks to David Beckham’s penalty kick. The two countries have endured tensions since the 1982 Falklands War, when they fought over sovereignty over the Falkland Islands, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands.
The war cost a total of 649 Argentine lives and 255 British deaths. Tensions continued to build until the two countries met four years later in the quarterfinals of the 1986 World Cup.
The match in Mexico City was made famous by Diego Maradona’s “Hand of God”, which saw the Argentine superstar drive the ball into the net and lead his team to elimination as 2-1 winners. The incident sparked outrage in England as Argentina’s Maradona-inspired side continued to lift trophies.
And Argentina coach Scaloni has sought to calm tensions ahead of Wednesday’s blockbuster last-four clash, insisting his team will not view the match any differently than any other match. However, that view is not shared by Maradona’s son.
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Speaking via Thai Sports, he said: “My father won’t think of this as a normal match, it’s just a match. For all the Argentinian fans and Maradona fans, this will be a different kind of event. It’s a reminder of everything that happened in the Falklands war and all the brothers who died there and what happened to my father in 1986.”
Maradona Jr., who is currently the manager of Portic in Italy’s lower leagues, also made it clear that Wednesday’s match will have historic significance for the Argentine. He added: “My father won that historic match and since then nothing has been out of the ordinary against England.
The Hand of God was one of the most infamous incidents in football (Image: Bob Thomas Sports Photography via Getty Images)
“It’s never going to be a normal game. This game in particular will be tough for our national team. It’s true that England are playing well, but we have to win against the world champions. It’s going to be a tough game… for both of us.”
England comfortably won Group L and endured a difficult road to reach the semi-finals. Thomas Tuchel’s side came from behind to beat the Democratic Republic of the Congo in the last 32, followed up with a thrilling 3-2 victory over co-hosts Mexico and defeated Norway in extra time in the last eight.
Meanwhile, Argentina also took the lead in the group, then played against Cape Verde and Egypt, before defeating Switzerland in extra time.
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