Argentina vice president goes against Lionel Scaloni with distasteful England comments before World Cup semi-final

Ahead of the World Cup semi-final, Argentina vice president Victoria Villarruel ignored head coach Lionel Scaloni’s advice not to mix football with politics as he rehashes old conflicts in a distasteful rally cry.

England and Argentina have a long and storied rivalry in the World Cup.

From Maradona’s two-toned genius with his devastating dribbled goal and the Hand of God to Michael Owen’s iconic opener in 2002 and even Beckham’s red card fury, both countries have experienced heartbreak at the hands of the other.

For 2026, it will be the first time that the countries have met in modern-day football - at least, a first for Lionel Messi.

Evenly poised on the side of the bracket that has been dragged to extra time in the quarterfinals, it promises to be another brutal affair.

But ahead of the game, Argentina boss Lionel Scaloni implored that politics be left outside of the conversations, a message that fell on deaf ears for vice president Victoria Villarruel.

England labeled 'usurping pirates' by Argentina's vice President despite Scaloni plea

Outside of football, Britain and Argentina's rivalry has been intensified by political disputes, such as the Falklands War in 1982, which resulted in the deaths of 649 Argentine soldiers, 255 British combatants and three civilians.

Political disputes remain as the British overseas territory known as Las Malvinas, remains the subject of a sovereignty disagreement.

Despite being advised by Scaloni not to make the game about politics, vice president Villarruel posted a distasteful motivational message on social media.

"Tomorrow we play against the usurping pirates," she wrote.

"This isn't just another match. I'm not going to be politically correct or cold-hearted; against the English, it's always something more.

"It's the Malvinas, 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!"

The message was posted on Tuesday, shortly after Scaloni's press conference message.

Argentina boss Scaloni told fans 'not to mix' football and politics, and to keep both topics separate.

"The reality is that this is a football match," he said.

"I can't mix things up, especially out of respect for what happened so many years ago.

"It was a very sad period in our history, and there isn't much we can do about it, that's the reality.

"Things are happening elsewhere in the world, and we criticise the existence of war. We certainly remember those people, of course. But it is a football match; we shouldn't confuse the two."

The World Cup semi-final kicks off at 8pm GMT, where Thomas Tuchel's team will hope to hand Messi his first and last loss against the Three Lions.