Argentina's Vice President Rages: We Face Pirate Usurpers, Against England It's Always More Than Football

Argentina's Vice President, Victoria Villarruel, made a highly provocative statement ahead of today's semi-final clash between the "Albiceleste" and England. Villarruel, whose father was a veteran of the Falklands War, branded the islanders "pirate usurpers" in a politically charged social media tirade.

"Tomorrow we play against the pirate usurpers. This isn't just another match. I won't be politically correct or heartless in this situation. Against the English, it's always more. These are the Malvinas Islands (the way the long-disputed islands are referred to in the country), this is Diego, this is Leo's (Messi's) last match, go Argentina! Because until my last breath, we will claim what is ours!" Villarruel wrote on social media.

The Falklands War (known as the Malvinas Islands in Argentina) was a brief but extremely intense conflict in 1982 between Great Britain and Argentina. The war between the two nations lasted exactly 74 days and concluded with the surrender of the South American country's military forces, who had initially started the conflict with a landing on April 2, seizing the capital. The South American nation claims it inherited sovereignty over them from Spain, while Great Britain has occupied and governed them since 1833, and the majority of the local population identifies as British, stating their desire to remain an overseas territory of the UK.