Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni said he was “not going to mix” football and politics as he looked ahead to his side’s World Cup semi-final against England in Atlanta on Wednesday.

The two nations will resume one of international football’s most storied rivalries at the Atlanta Stadium, as England bid to defeat the defending champions and reach their first World Cup final since 1966.

Their rivalry on the pitch has been intensified by political disputes off it, with Britain and Argentina fighting the Falklands War in 1982 – a 74-day conflict that resulted in the deaths of 649 Argentine soldiers, 255 British combatants and three civilians.

The British overseas territory, known in Argentina as Las Malvinas, remains the subject of a sovereignty dispute between the two countries.

“The reality is that this is a football match. I can’t mix things up, especially out of respect for what happened so many years ago,” said Scaloni.

“It was a very sad period in our history, and there isn’t much we can do about it, that’s the reality.

“Things are happening elsewhere in the world, and we criticise the existence of war. We certainly remember those people, of course. But it is a football match; we shouldn’t confuse the two.”

There will be increased security measures in place in Atlanta because of the historical tensions between the two nations.

After Argentina’s dramatic 3-2 win over Egypt in the last 16, players were filmed singing a chant referencing the islands and Argentina greats Diego Maradona and Lionel Messi.

Maradona led Argentina to victory over England in the 1986 World Cup quarter-finals as he scored the famous Hand of God goal and a brilliant second, while captain Messi is set to face the Three Lions for the first time in his illustrious career.

Eight-time Ballon d’Or winner Messi has inspired Argentina during their run to the last four, with the 39-year-old scoring a joint-tournament high eight goals, alongside France striker Kylian Mbappe.

Argentina have however generally struggled collectively, with the three-time World Cup winners being tested in each of their knockout games.

Alongside the win over Egypt, Argentina needed extra time in the last-32 to beat Cape Verde and again in the quarter-finals to defeat 10-man Switzerland.

Scaloni, who guided Argentina to World Cup glory four years ago in Qatar, says he is not concerned about his side’s form before facing England.

“A month-and-a-half ago I would have taken getting to the semi-final if you had offered me that, so I don’t mind how we got here,” said Scaloni.

“I can’t reproach my players. Whether we are tired or not I don’t care. This is a World Cup semi-final.”

Scaloni added that he has been briefing his side on the best way to handle England striker Harry Kane and midfielder Jude Bellingham, who have both scored six goals during the World Cup.

“They are two great players, among the best in the world. Any coach would like to have them,” he said.