Argentina’s vice president calls England ‘usurping pirates’ ahead of World Cup clash
The Argentinian Vice President has branded England “usurping pirates” and “invaders” in a bitter attack ahead of tonight’s crunch World Cup semi-final, reports BritPanorama.
Victoria Villarruel, who serves as deputy to Javier Milei, took to social media in the early hours of Wednesday morning in a desperate attempt to issue a rallying cry to the Argentinian national team. She wrote: “Tomorrow we play against the usurping pirates. This isn’t just another match.”
Villarruel continued, “I’m not going to be politically correct or cold-hearted; against the English, it’s always something more. It’s the Malvinas (Falkland Islands) it’s Diego, it’s Leo’s last one, and it’s putting the brakes on the invaders. Go Argentina! Because until our last breath, we’re going to claim what’s ours!”
Her father was part of the invading Argentinian force that surrendered after just 74 days in the 1982 Falklands War. Villarruel’s comments follow previous remarks where she described Falkland Islanders as “English people who live in Argentine territory,” asserting they “are not part of the discussion” regarding the territory’s future.
England boss Thomas Tuchel acknowledged that the upcoming match is “fuelled by history.” He noted, “They are fuelled by history, it means a lot to them. So this is what we basically expect, and what we are up against. But we are also emotional, we have the grit, we have the mentality that it takes to go up against it. And we are ready for it.”
As both England and Argentina supporters spoke to reporters in Atlanta ahead of the fixture, there were mixed sentiments about whether the geopolitical tensions were influencing fans’ perspectives. One Argentinian fan remarked, “It shouldn’t be. But some people maybe take it like this. It’s just sport.” Another added, “Let the politicians do that. Let’s concentrate on the football. This is going to be, how our Scaloni say, just one more match up.”
However, amidst the rivalry, one England fan reported that all Argentine supporters he encountered in the US were “very friendly,” despite the backdrop of historical animosities. Notably, American authorities are concerned that the growing tensions could spill into the stands, with the FBI designating tonight’s semi-final in Atlanta as the highest risk fixture in the entire tournament.
As the match approaches, the atmosphere is charged not just by football but a history that continues to resonate — a poignant reminder of how sport often intersects with national identity.
