Argentina VP brands England “pirate usurpers” ahead of World Cup clash Pressure mounts before blockbuster semifinal

Argentine Vice President Victoria Villarruel rejected remarks made by national team head coach Lionel Scaloni ahead of Argentina’s World Cup semifinal against England, arguing that the match carries significance far beyond football because of the Falklands War.

In a post on X, Villarruel framed the fixture as a symbolic confrontation tied to Argentina’s longstanding claim over the Falkland Islands, known in Argentina as the Malvinas, Caliber.Az reports.

“Tomorrow we are playing against pirate usurpers. This is not just another match. I am not going to be politically correct or indifferent — matches against the English are always something more. It is the Malvinas, it is Diego (Maradona), it is Leo’s (Messi’s) last tournament, and it is an opportunity to put the occupiers in their place. Come on, Argentina! Because until our very last breath, we will demand what belongs to us!” Villarruel said.

Mañana jugamos contra los piratas usurpadores.
No es un partido más.
No voy a ser políticamente correcta ni pecho frío, contra los ingleses siempre es algo más. Es Malvinas, es el Diego, es la última de Leo y es pararle el carro a los invasores.
¡Aguante Argentina! Porque…

— Victoria Villarruel (@VickyVillarruel) July 15, 2026

Matches between Argentina and England have carried strong political symbolism since the 1982 Falklands War, which was fought between the United Kingdom and Argentina over the Falkland Islands.

Villarruel’s father also took part in the conflict.

On Tuesday, July 14, however, Scaloni called for the match to be viewed solely through a sporting lens.

When asked about tensions between Argentina and England, particularly the long-running dispute over the Falkland Islands, Scaloni stressed that his team is focused on the sporting side of the World Cup semifinal and is not allowing political history to influence its approach. 

"The reality is that this is a football match. I can't mix things up, especially out of respect for what happened so many years ago," he said. 

"It was a very sad period in our history, and there isn't much we can do about it, that's the reality. It is a football match. There's no getting around that. Things are happening elsewhere in the world, and we criticize the existence of war, so for me to start saying this is anything more than a football match... it seems crazy to me. We certainly remember those people, of course. But it is a football match; we shouldn't confuse the two," the coach added.

By Jeyhun Aghazada