Lionel Scaloni said he will not mix politics with football as Argentina prepare for the World Cup semi‑final against England in Atlanta.

The historic rivalry was amplified by the 1982 Falklands War, which cost 649 Argentine and 255 British soldiers and still fuels the sovereignty dispute over the islands.

Scaloni emphasized that the game is a football match and that respect for past events should not cloud the present: "It was a very sad period in our history, and there isn’t much we can do about it, that’s the reality."

Argentina’s campaign saw a dramatic 3-2 win over Egypt and extra‑time victories in the last‑32 and quarter‑finals booster. The team’s key figures include Lionel Messi, who has scored eight goals, and England’s Harry Kane, whose six goals pose a challenge for Scaloni’s side.