Argentina defeated England 2-1 in a World Cup semi-final on July 15 with late goals from Enzo Fernandez and Lautaro Martinez. Manager Lionel Scaloni stated before the match that he would not mix football and politics, while Argentina's vice-president posted that the fixture carried additional significance. The match occurred amid references to the 1982 Falklands/Malvinas conflict and drew crowds near a Messi statue in Cutral Co.