Atlanta, July 15 -- Ahead of Argentina's FIFA World Cup semi-final against England on Wednesday (local time), Vice President Victoria Villarruel described the match as more than just football, invoking the Falkland Islands (Malvinas) dispute and Argentina's football icons.

She called England "the usurping pirates," saying the clash represents "the Malvinas, Diego, Leo's last one, and putting the brakes on the invaders."

Political tensions between Argentina and the United Kingdom over the Falkland Islands (Malvinas) continue to simmer decades after the 1982 war, in which the two countries fought over the disputed territory.

According to ESPN, Las Malvinas is Argentina's name for the Falkland Islands, whose residents voted overwhelmingly...