France, July 15 -- Their meetings before the 1966 tournament had passed without incident.

England claimed the first at Wembley Stadium in London in May 1951, winning 2-1, before a friendly two years later in Buenos Aires ended goalless.

Their first competitive encounter came at the 1962 World Cup, where England emerged 3-1 winners. In 1964 at a mini-tournament staged to mark the 50th anniversary of the Brazilian FA, Argentina got their revenge with a 1-0 win. Start of the acrimony

The rivalry began in earnest in 1966, in a bruising World Cup quarter-final.

Even by the standards of an era when defenders such as Ron "Chopper" Harris and Norman "Bites Yer Legs" Hunter prowled English pitches, the match was brutal.

Argentina captain Anto...