National Teams Day? Really? Argentina Are Bad Winners, But This is Something Else…

National Teams Day? Really? Argentina Are Bad Winners, But This is Something Else…

Naturally, many of us are still reeling from the exceedingly painful World Cup semi-final defeat at the hands of an old enemy, both on the pitch and in a political sense, Argentina.

We were so good, until we suddenly weren’t, and it was in typical Three Lions fashion that our lads did all the hard work, before watching it unravel in the final minutes, leaving themselves precious little time to rescue the situation.

It was also a result that was entirely characteristic of Argentina at the World Cup - they almost always flatter to deceive throughout the first half and much of the second half at big tournament games, before coming at the opponents with an irresistible flurry in the closing stages. 10 goals after the 78th minute, compared to just two in the time before that, more or less describes the nature of their run to the final.

🚨🚨| OFFICIAL: Argentina's FA (AFA) declares July 15 as 𝐍𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐀𝐋 𝐓𝐄𝐀𝐌𝐒 𝐃𝐀𝐘, honouring the historic World Cup 2026 semi-final win over England. 🏆🇦🇷

The date was chosen in tribute to Argentina's victory over England in the 2026 World Cup semi-final. pic.twitter.com/wU1vcxuJYo

— CentreGoals. (@centregoals) August 6, 2026

But to designate July 15th, the day England were sent home, as National Teams day seems to be a step too far down the road to pettiness. It wasn’t even the final, didn’t win the Argentine’s any silverware, and moreover, if any side was going to crumble in the final 10 minutes of a World Cup semi-final, it was England. So why are Argentina hyping it up so much?

Deep-Rooted Rivalry

It’s no secret that the nations of Argentina and England hold a deep-rooted, dislike of each other, and while we wouldn’t want to describe it as a hatred, it isn’t far off qualifying as such.

Between the infamous Falklands war and Maradona’s “Hand of God” and “Goal of the Century” double salvo in 1986 to dump England out in the quarters, there is no love lost between the two countries… not that they held any to begin with.

Ever since, it has been about petty revenge and ridiculous drama’s - Simeone going down at the slightest flick of David Beckham’s right boot, Michael Owens wonder goal earlier that same match, and Beckham’s emotional redemption four years later have all added much to the rich-tapestry of one of international football’s greatest rivalries.

However, you’ll notice that, aside from the Falkland’s war, all of these flashpoints occurred very much on the pitch - off-field, any signs of rivalry have largely steered clear of global news and politics.

🚨🇦🇷 𝗢𝗙𝗙𝗜𝗖𝗜𝗔𝗟: Argentina's FA (AFA) have declared July 15 as National Teams Day to commemorate their unforgettable 2026 World Cup semi-final victory over England. 🏆

🤯 The date marks one of the greatest comebacks in Argentina's history. They were 1-0 down in the 84th… pic.twitter.com/LmEWoyPpci

— Football Tweet ⚽ (@Footballtweet) August 6, 2026

That has now all changed with Argentina’s introduction of National Teams Day - interestingly named, seeing as only one national team won the game, but who are we to judge the naming of a new public holiday.

However, more surprising than the designation of the new day of celebration is the fact that it is not the first time Argentina have introduced time-off in order to commemorate a football-specific event. Even more remarkably, it is not the first time that the aforementioned footballing event has been specific to a game against England…

Butt of the Joke

Up until recently, El Dia del Futbolista (Footballer’s Day) was Argentina’s primary football-centric public holiday. Falling on July 22nd of each year, it is a day that honours Maradona’s fateful brace against England on the same day in 1986.

Now, 40 years later, the Argentina Football Association (AFA) have seen fit to follow an identical template for an almost identical result - after an executive committee convened, they all voted in favour of turning “a specific football match into a public observance”.

Yes, it was an impressive turnaround - inspired by none other than Lionel Messi, who assisted both goals, Argentina turned around a 1-0 deficit in the 85th minute into a 2-1 lead by the 92nd, a truly jaw-dropping comeback, and one that impressed fans the world over, unless they were English.

Making July 15 an official national holiday just because you broke England's heart in the 84th minute is pure, unadulterated shithousery. Argentina really turned a World Cup semi-final win into a permanent state holiday. Absolute cinema. 🇦🇷💀 https://t.co/BsbWDnKHQC

— Maria Mel (@Mariamelx58) August 6, 2026

However, a public holiday for such a result seems a bit much - the win didn’t win them the World Cup, it was far from the first time they had beaten England before, and honestly, their comeback against Egypt in the round of 16 had been more spectacular.

We don’t even have a public holiday to commemorate our first and only World Cup triumph (30th July 1966 in case anyone was wondering), so why should Argentina introduce a new one for far, far less?

Well, the simple answer is spite. The dislike between the two nations hasn’t been as significant as it currently is since the height of the Falklands War, not helped by Valentin Barco’s tasteless on field celebrations after Enzo Fernandez’s equaliser, or by Giovanni Lo Celso’s “The Falkland’s are Argentina’s” banner that was unfurled after the final whistle.

I am a Chelsea fan, and I have never been less enamored with a new signing than with the red-head little so and so that is Valentin Barco - between starting a fight with Jude Bellingham and celebrating in the face of our centre-backs as a World Cup sem-final substitute, he has done little craft himself a positive reputation in West London.

And perhaps the subsequent investigation requested by the English FA and launched by FIFA after the politically motivated banner is part of the reason that Argentina have opted to use the result as an excuse for celebration - Argentina don’t care that a fine, and potentially a ban could be coming their way for the message. They got to exhibit it on the biggest stage of all and on global TV. That, on top of the result, means that they will do anything to let England know that they won the moral battle as well as the one that took place on the field.

🚨🇦🇷 SE TENSA LA RELACIÓN ENTRE ENZO FERNÁNDEZ Y EL CHELSEA

El Chelsea rechazó la solicitud de mejora salarial de Enzo Fernández y, según varios reportes, ya le puso precio ante una posible salida.

En el club consideran que, si el argentino quiere marcharse, la puerta está… pic.twitter.com/mxdYwgTw2o

— Motivaciones Fútbol (@MotivacionesF) July 29, 2026

The new holiday isn’t just limited to the Argentina men's national team - the AFA have specifically stated that the celebration extends to every single Argentina national selection, ranging from the Women’s team to the men's U17s, and even to those who play beach soccer and futsal - a celebration of the Argentinian beautiful game in every sense.

But lads, there’s being sore winners, and then there’s this. You won the battle but lost the war, and in spectacular fashion, may I add: zero shots in 90 minutes of World Cup final football is nasty work.

At least you were served some divine justice before you served up your next showing of anti-England hatred - Enzo Fernandez was suitably punished for a petulant tackle, and to watch the architect of England’s semi-final downfall trudge to the touchline in the biggest game in football provided us all with a satisfying case of schadenfreude.

You may have National Team’s Day for the rest of your days, but we can hold our heads high and truthfully say that we left the tournament honourably. For Lionel Messi and co., that couldn’t have been further from the truth.