‘It’s about standing up to invaders’: Argentina’s Vice President sparks controversy, calls England ‘spoilt pirates’ ahead of FIFA World Cup clash | Football News

Argentina’s vice president Victoria Villarruel has sparked controversy ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026 semi-final against England by invoking the Falkland Islands dispute and describing the Three Lions as “pirate usurpers” in a post on X.“Tomorrow we play against the pirate fishermen. It’s not just a game. I can’t be politically correct or indifferent. Against the English, it’s always something more. It’s the Falkland Islands (Malvinas), it’s Diego (Maradona), it’s the end of Leo (Messi), and it’s about staying for our lives until the end of Argentina! demanding what’s ours!” he wrote, translated from Latin American Spanish, in X.Villarruel’s comments come as defending champions Argentina prepare to face England in Atlanta on Wednesday (local time), with a place in the World Cup final at stake. The winner will face Spain, who booked their place in the title race with a 2-0 win over France.The competition will mark an important moment for the Argentina captain Lionel Messiwho is set to face England for the first time in his illustrious international career.Despite representing Argentina for over two decades and playing against every other country that has won the FIFA World Cup, Messi has never beaten the Three Lions.“The truth is, it’s special,” Messi told reporters after Argentina’s 3-1 extra-time victory over Switzerland in the quarter-finals.“This is a special match because it is my first time. I have played against everyone except England. And it is special, as I said before, because they are a big team, a powerhouse. It is always nice to play against teams like that, in matches like this, and especially in the semi-finals of a World Cup,” he added.The semi-final also revived one of the most enduring rivalries in international football. England and Argentina have not met in a competition since 2002 FIFA World Cupwhen England got a 1-0 victory.Argentina reached the last four after winning all three of their matches in Group J before overcoming Cabo Verde, Egypt and Switzerland in the knockout rounds. The defending champions scored nine goals in their three knockout fixtures, the highest tally among the semi-finalists.England, meanwhile, advanced with a dramatic 2-1 extra-time win over Norway, courtesy of Jude Bellingham’s brace. The Three Lions earlier edged out DR Congo and Mexico by one-goal margins, underscoring the resilience that took them to their fourth World Cup semi-finals.For Messi, the match offers a chance to complete a rare lost chapter in his international career, while for Argentina and England, another high-stakes encounter adds to a rivalry that has been shaped by decades of sporting history and political atmosphere.