How soccer has helped shape national identities in England and Argentina

The World Cup semifinal between Argentina and England on Wednesday is more than a battle for a place in the final. It also reflects decades of sporting rivalry and two distinct national identities that have evolved through soccer.

England, once known for viewing itself as the game's original authority, has embraced a more diverse and multicultural identity. The country's national team now reflects its changing population, with many players coming from immigrant backgrounds.

Argentina, meanwhile, continues to draw much of its football identity from traditions established nearly a century ago. Historians say the country's playing style and sense of national pride were shaped in the 1920s as a deliberate contrast to England's approach to the sport.

According to Pablo Alabarces, a professor of popular culture at the University of Buenos Aires, Argentina's early sports journalists encouraged the development of a unique football identity. In 1928, El Gráfico editor Ricardo Lorenzo, better known as "Borocotó," described the ideal Argentine footballer as a street-smart, resilient young player whose creativity and determination reflected the country's emerging identity.

Jonathan Wilson, author of Angels With Dirty Faces: The Footballing History of Argentina, said the description closely resembles the qualities later associated with Argentine legend Diego Maradona, despite being written more than three decades before Maradona was born.

The figure, commonly referred to as the "pibe," became a symbol of Argentine football, representing flair, ingenuity, and determination. Historians say the image helped unite a nation that had been transformed by large waves of immigration, particularly from Italy, Spain, and Eastern Europe, during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Although many members of Argentina's current national team play for European clubs, that football identity remains evident today. Goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez's psychological tactics during high-pressure matches, including the 2022 World Cup final against France, are often cited as examples of the "pibe" mentality.

Former Argentina international Jorge Valdano said the country's football culture played a significant role in its World Cup success.

"Our know-how and cunning allowed us to triumph in a match when France had managed to level it," Valdano said during a sports media event in Spain.

England's Changing Identity

England has also experienced significant demographic change through immigration, particularly from former British colonies. Many current England players are second- or third-generation immigrants, reflecting the country's increasingly diverse society.

Sunder Katwala, director of the British Future think tank, said the England national team has helped redefine what it means to be English.

"I think, in a very profound way, the English football team over the last half-century has shifted the cultural and social norms of who we think is English," Katwala said.

Following England's only World Cup title in 1966, national identity was often associated with nostalgia and wartime resilience. By the 1990s, however, English football was still dealing with hooliganism and lingering hostility toward foreigners.

Katwala said Euro 1996, hosted by England, marked a turning point. The tournament's unofficial anthem, "Three Lions," became a symbol of hope and shared national experience rather than superiority.

England has also become more open to foreign leadership. After appointing Sweden's Sven-Göran Eriksson as its first foreign manager, the team is now led by German coach Thomas Tuchel.

Despite progress, challenges remain. Following England's loss to Italy in the Euro 2020 final, several Black players faced widespread racist abuse on social media after missing penalties in the shootout, prompting condemnation from football and political leaders.

Midfielder Jude Bellingham later said the abuse exposed lingering prejudice.

"You look at the run into that final and you felt as though the country had united," Bellingham told the Mirror in 2022. "Then as soon as they missed a penalty, they were not English, just Black. Anyone can miss a penalty."

Bellingham, who has become one of England's standout performers at the World Cup, has received strong support from fans, who regularly sing "Hey Jude" in his honor during matches.

As England prepares to face Argentina, goalkeeper Jordan Pickford said the team is focused solely on the challenge ahead.

"We're in the semifinal, and we know we can't look past Argentina," Pickford said. "It's going to be a tough game, a top game. But we want to put smiles on our supporters' faces." -Reporting by Rosalba O'Brien, editing by Ed Osmond/Reuters