“A football game – and that is all.”

These words were calmly uttered by Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni soon after the 3-1 win over Switzerland in the World Cup quarter-finals.

It set up a mouthwatering semi-final against England, who won through after defeating Norway 2-1 in their quarter-final.

But images of violent confrontations – such as the ones that took place in Miami between Argentine and English supporters, alongside other videos capturing similar fights and Argentine players chanting “for Malvinas (the Falkland Islands) for Diego (Maradona), for Leo (Messi)’s last one!” – are telling a different story.

Scaloni’s statement was likely said to reduce the possibility of what should be a fair game between two talented teams ending up in an explosive display of masculine toxicity, which is the reason why security and policing in Atlanta has been enhanced ahead of the match.

The modern-day rivalry

Few rivalries in world sport carry as much weight off the pitch as Argentina vs England.

The upcoming semi-final between these two teams is a reminder of an open wound: the 1982 Falklands/Malvinas War.

This history transforms every match into something more than a game, and nowhere is this clearer than in the chants that fill the stands.

Take “El que no salta es un inglés” – “he who doesn’t jump is an........

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