Buenos Aires (EFE).- The 2026 World Cup semifinal between Argentina and England has been felt for days in the South American country, where tension coexists with the creativity of those who have turned to social media to compose songs in support of their national team that recall the historic rivalry between both teams.
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The lyrics allude to both the footballing level and the 1982 Falklands War, the conflict between Argentina and the United Kingdom over the sovereignty of the archipelago that left hundreds dead and a deep mark on Argentine society.
The songs that accompany the Albiceleste
As the team led by Lionel Scaloni advanced in this World Cup, one of the chants that gained the most strength in the stands, on social media, and during celebrations was ‘The fourth star’, sung even by the Albiceleste players.
“For the Malvinas, for Diego, for Leo’s last one, Argentina I want to see you two-time champion,” says one of the passages of the song, in allusion to that conflict, to the memory of Diego Armando Maradona, and to the fact that this World Cup is almost certainly the last for Lionel Messi, who has just turned 39.
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In recent days, a song created by the payador Pedro Saubidet, which he recorded with his eight-year-old daughter, also became popular, later being replicated by numerous artists and users on social media.
“I want to steal a goal from the thief again, like Diego and the big-nosed one, and have the fourth star shine in the sky of my nation,” mentions the chorus, recalling Maradona’s handball goal against England in the 1986 World Cup quarterfinals, known as the Hand of God, and his then-coach, Carlos Salvador Bilardo.
How Argentina is experiencing the lead-up to the semifinal
In parallel, fan groups began spreading songs since the 3-1 victory over Switzerland in the quarterfinals and the confirmation of the clash against England with phrases such as: “England wait for us a little longer, we will meet soon,” “The English are afraid because they know this group has guts,” and “In the Azteca they already ran, and in Miami we are going to make them run again.”
One of them focuses on the Argentine soldiers who fought in the Malvinas War, most of them young men who had just reached the age of majority, with the verses: “For Argentina I give my life, like the kids in the Malvinas, oh England I ask you for a fight”.
After eliminating Switzerland in Saturday’s victory, the Albiceleste players themselves celebrated with the fans in the stadium and revived another of the traditional chants from the Argentine stands: “And now you see it, and now you see it, whoever doesn’t jump is an Englishman.”
The phrase, accompanied by the fans’ jumps, also echoed in countless corners of Argentine territory during the celebrations for reaching the semifinals.
