England V Argentina: World Cups and Other Small Wars

When England meets Argentina on the football pitch, both nations hold their breath. Author David Downing explores the stormy relationship that the two countries share, against the backdrop of their interwoven histories. The story begins with Britain bringing the game to its South American semi-colony. It takes in football matches that degenerate into battles, and wars that seriously affect football matches. From the club tours of the early 20th century, through the mass import of British referees, to the first friendly internationals of the post-war period, Downing unearths the telling anecdotes and examines the footballing trends. He takes the reader through the 1966 World Cup quarter-final; the romantic Argentinian victory of 1978 and the arrival of Ossie Ardiles and Ricky Villa in England; the 1982 war in the South Atlantic; and the revenge offered up four years later by Diego Maradona's infamous 'Hand of God'. At each turn of the story, Downing shows how different attitudes to the game and different cultural identities have underlain the footballing headlines. This is a tale of clashing cultures, both on and off the pitch.