Argentina fans burn a Union Flag flag in the street (Image: X)
A group of Argentina fans heightened tensions ahead of Wednesday’s World Cup semi-final encounter with England by burning the Union Jack. Video footage captures a group of jubilant Argentines setting fire to the flag in Escobar, close to the capital of Buenos Aires. Cheers ring out from the assembled crowd as the flames take hold. Several onlookers can also be observed leaping about while chanting: “He who doesn’t jump is an Englishman.”
The footage was reportedly filmed following Argentina’s victory over Switzerland on Saturday evening, with the Three Lions having secured their semi-final spot earlier that day. The World Cup champions haven’t faced England since a 2005 friendly match. While the two nations share considerable history on the football pitch, there is a substantial background beyond sport as well. The Union Jack featured prominently among British forces during the Falklands War and forms part of the present-day flag of the Falkland Islands.
The clip showing the flag ablaze prompted bemusement since England, naturally, compete with the St George’s Cross flag. On social media, one person questioned: “Are they that dumb or what?”
Another declared: “Burning the flag of Great Britain thinking it’s England’s just proves that the biggest enemy of the Argentine isn’t the English, it’s the geography book.”
Following their 3-1 extra-time victory over Switzerland, Argentina’s players were captured on film singing about the Falkland Islands (which Argentines call Las Malvinas). “For the Malvinas, for Diego [Maradona], for Leo’s [Lionel Messi] last one,” they chanted inside their dressing room.
However, Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni is keen to ensure his players remain focused on the football rather than getting swept up in the emotion surrounding the fixture. “The message is this is a football game,” Scaloni affirmed at a press conference.
“That is what I can say. We will be playing against a very tough opponent, they have an excellent coach, it is a football game and that is all.”
Meanwhile, Argentina forward Jose Lopez said: “Obviously, inside and outside the four lines of the pitch it’s a match that has a lot of history there, a lot of pain and a lot of things behind it. I think we are professionals and we’re going to play it like we play every game: until the last second, leaving our lives on the field.”