We Will Meet 'Invaders and Pirates'.. Argentina's Vice President Sparks Controversy Before England Clash

Argentina's Vice President Victoria Villarruel refused to downplay the historical and political dimensions of the upcoming match between Argentina and England in the World Cup semi-final, insisting that the meeting is "not just a football match," in a stance that contradicts statements by national team coach Lionel Scaloni.

Hours before the match kicked off in the American city of Atlanta, Villarruel wrote on the "X" platform: "We will play against the pirates who seized our land," in reference to the historical dispute over the Falkland Islands, known in Argentina as the Malvinas Islands.

She added: "I will not be politically polite or cold-hearted. Facing the English always means more than just a match. It is the Malvinas, Diego Maradona, and Lionel Messi's last World Cup, and an opportunity to confront the invaders." She concluded her message by saying: "Go Argentina... We will continue to demand our rights until our last breath."

Matches between Argentina and England have carried dimensions beyond sports since the Falklands War in 1982, which erupted between the two countries and resulted in the deaths of about a thousand people, while the islands remain a British Overseas Territory, a status that has existed since 1833.

Villarruel's stance takes on a personal dimension, as her father participated in the Falklands War. Argentine football legend Diego Maradona had previously described the victory over England in the 1986 World Cup, which saw him score his two famous goals, as a tribute to the war's victims.

In contrast, Argentine national team head coach Lionel Scaloni called for separating sports from politics, saying: "It is a football match, and we must keep things separate. Today's players have nothing to do with what happened many years ago. It was a sad period and we remember it, but it would be a mistake to bring it into the match atmosphere."