THE LOWDOWN — THE FULL HISTORY
RATTÍN — Sixty years ago Argentina captain Antonio Rattín was sent off against England at Wembley and refused to go, sitting on the red carpet meant for the Queen. That day led to the invention of the red card. Rattín died on 11 July 2026, aged 89, days before the two nations met again.
THE RIVALRY
In 1986 at the Azteca, Diego Maradona scored the Hand of God and the greatest goal in World Cup history, four minutes apart. In 1998 Beckham was sent off and England lost on penalties. England have not beaten Argentina in a World Cup knockout since 1966.
THE OLD KING
Lionel Messi, 39, the all-time leading scorer in World Cup history, one win from one more final. Argentina are champions who refuse to die, with Emiliano Martínez, who has never lost a shootout for Argentina, waiting if it goes to penalties.
THE NEW
Harry Kane, past Lineker and Pelé as England's greatest goalscorer, and Jude Bellingham, 23, with six goals and a brace in every knockout round. The semi-final is in Atlanta: the old king, or the new.
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THE TERRACES — DISCUSSION
The argument also lives in the YouTube comments ↗.