From Maradona to Messi: Argentina's video to fire up fans for England semi-final

As Argentina prepares to face England in a highly anticipated World Cup semifinal, the Argentine Football Association has released a video designed to rally support and evoke national pride. The spot prominently features the iconic fan chant, "Y ya lo ve/ Y ya lo ve/ ¡El que no salta es un inglés!" (He who doesn't jump is an Englishman!), a song that has resonated across generations of Argentine football fans.

The video, titled "Salten todos" (Everyone Jump), directly references Lionel Messi, the team's star player and current World Cup top scorer, as well as the legendary Diego Maradona. It recalls Maradona's pivotal performance against England in the 1986 World Cup, including the infamous "Hand of God" goal. The voiceover urges fans to "jump for history, as that number 10 once jumped," and assures that "if you fall, this team will never leave you behind," referencing Messi's post-defeat comments after Argentina's surprising loss to Saudi Arabia earlier in the tournament.

The semifinal match, scheduled for Wednesday, carries significant historical weight due to the 1982 Falklands War between Argentina and the United Kingdom. Both teams' coaches, Lionel Scaloni of Argentina and Jordan Pickford of England, have acknowledged the sensitive nature of the encounter, with Scaloni stating, "It's just a football match." However, the deep-seated rivalry inevitably shapes the narrative surrounding the game.

Security has been significantly tightened for the match, deemed a "high-risk" event. Meetings involving security representatives from Georgia, Florida, the FBI, and security agencies from Argentina and England have taken place. A controversial decision arising from these discussions is the prohibition of flags displaying the Falkland Islands, a measure confirmed by Alejandra Monteoliv and met with mixed reactions on social media.

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a la cancha salta un equipo que va a dejar todo para volverlo a intentar