Giuliano Simeone is set to start for Argentina in the semi-finals of the World Cup against England tonight, reminiscent of past controversies in this fierce rivalry.
The rivalry between England and Argentina goes beyond football, and until this tournament, they had not faced each other in a competitive match since the 2002 World Cup.
Notably, their history includes a contentious last-16 clash in the 1998 World Cup, where David Beckham was dismissed after clashing with Argentina’s Diego Simeone.
Diego Simeone and David Beckham during their 1998 World Cup encounter (AFP/Getty)
Diego Simeone, who now coaches Spanish club Atletico Madrid, is the father of Giuliano, who is Argentina’s sole change for tonight’s semi-final in Atlanta.
Beckham’s red card in 1998 came after he was provoked by Simeone, resulting in Beckham kicking out and receiving a dismissal.
That moment marked a low point in Beckham’s career, as 10-man England were ultimately eliminated by Argentina in a penalty shootout.
Giuliano Simeone, aged 23, is a winger who plays under his father at Atletico Madrid and will be making his second World Cup appearance, stepping in for Rodrigo De Paul.
He was born in Rome while his father was with Italian club Lazio, but he grew up in Argentina before joining Atletico Madrid in 2019 to play alongside his father.
Throughout this World Cup, Diego Simeone has been seen supporting Argentina and even shared a smile with Beckham in Miami.