So 40 years after one of the most iconic / notorious matches in World Cup history, the old enemies, England and Argentina, lock horns again – this time with a place at stake in the World Cup final against Spain on Sunday.

I say ‘Old Enemy’, prior to April 1982, relations between the two countries had been mostly cordial and civilised – I know they harboured a few escaping Nazis but hey-ho, ironically a decade before, in the 1970s various British companies had been based in South America training the Argentinian Navy with new computer-based defence technology.

The events in the Falklands, and then Diego Maradona’s hand, which nothing to do with the Lord Almighty, changed all that, and without doubt Argentina is now England’s bitterest opponent in world football, the stakes far higher than the traditional Germans or the French.

England go into the game in Atlanta on the back of two exciting knockout games against Mexico and Norway, ones they could have arguably lost. But they didn’t.

Will Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane shine on the big stage in the semi-final? (Photo by Richard Pelham/Getty Images)

placeholder image — Will Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane shine on the big stage in the semi-final? (Photo by Richard Pelham/Getty Images)

Argentina, for their part, almost laboured through the knockout stages and have on occasions benefitted from some erratic decisions from officials. But isn’t this why we all love the beautiful game?

The whole scenario is set up to be a World Cup classic. So let’s hope it is… for all the right reasons. Let’s hope we get to see Harry Kane show why he is the best striker on the planet, Declan Rice show all his doubters, critics and those minority of idiots in East London who continue to boo him, that he truly Is world class.

And sorry Gazza fans, yes he was a genius, but in 50 years time the England football fans of 2076 will revel in the stories of Jude Bellingham.

I’m a football fan, following both Brighton and England, and I know only too well that fate has a horrible habit of biting you on the backside at the optimum moment.

There is a school of thought that Lionel Messi retaining the World Cup at 39 is a dream scenario for football’s global governing body, and if it’s by fair means, ie Argentina beat both England and Spain without controversy, then all will be above board.

But if we’re to get issues along the lines of Argentina’s wins over Egypt and Switzerland, then that’s going to stick in the craw for another 40 years.

I like to end on a cliche, as regular readers will know… so let’s hope football is the winner!