Argentina stoke England fires with chant about Falklands after epic World Cup comeback
Argentina and England are on the same side of the World Cup knockout bracket, and they are already trying to inflict a psychological blow on the Three Lions ahead of a potential semi-final showdown
Argentina's players chanted about the Falkland Islands just moments after their World Cup round of 16 victory over Egypt. La Albiceleste left it to the last minute against the record African champions, netting three goals in 14 minutes to drag themselves back from the brink of an early exit.
Egypt had struck either side of half-time to establish an unlikely 2-0 advantage, but couldn't hold firm in what would have been one of the greatest World Cup upsets of all time. Instead, Argentina march on, with a quarter-final showdown against Switzerland standing between them and the last four.
Triumph in that fixture could set up a potential semi-final showdown with England, should the Three Lions overcome Norway in their own quarter-final tie. Such a clash would stir memories of legendary encounters from years past, but would almost certainly be overshadowed by the bitter legacy of the Falklands conflict of the 1980s.
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The two nations were locked in a 10-week armed struggle in 1982 after Argentine forces invaded the Falklands - a remote self-governing British overseas territory situated in the South Atlantic Ocean.
The sovereignty of the islands remains disputed to this day, and the matter continues to be an extremely sensitive political issue. One of the most popular chants amongst Argentine supporters makes direct reference to the islands, known as Las Malvinas in the South American nation.
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One verse reads: "I am Argentine from cradle to grave, for the Malvinas, for Diego, for Leo's final chapter," reports the Express.
The chant initially gained traction during Argentina's 2022 World Cup campaign and has resurfaced for their 2026 tournament. Should the two nations clash in next week's quarter-final, the chant is expected to ring out from the Argentine squad.
Before that, however, comes an encounter with another of the World Cup's brightest stars - Erling Haaland. The Manchester City forward has netted one goal fewer than Lionel Messi thus far and is targeting an upset against the 1966 champions when they face off in Miami on Saturday.
Yet the Norwegian camp has been hit by a wave of illness, believed to have been triggered by the constant travel between fixtures. When pressed on the matter, boss Stale Solbakken said: "We've really only had Jorgen [Strand Larsen] who has had a fever.
"But then there's been a bit of coughing and rasping evenly, scattered throughout. But there's air conditioning, flights, changing rooms and all that. We're over 50 people so it would be strange if one or the other didn't come."
Norway have also changed hotels ahead of the clash. It's understood the switch of base, ahead of the mammoth clash in Miami, was made after players complained about noise disruption from a road outside their hotel and a nearby construction site.
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