Alexis Mac Allister's mom explains why she doesn't join in Argentina chant about England
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Alexis Mac Allister will be aiming to help Argentina to a place in the World Cup final when he faces England, although his mother has played down the rivalry between the two countriesAlexis Mac Allister will be aiming to help Argentina past England and into the World Cup final(Image: Getty Images)Alexis Mac Allister’s mother has revealed why she refuses to join in with Argentina fans in one of their chants ahead of the World Cup semi-final against England.The Liverpool star will be involved as the two countries battle it out on Wednesday for a place in the final. Mac Allister has played in all of Argentina’s games so far at the tournament, and started all but one of them, having scored in the 3-1 win over Switzerland in the quarter-finals.The reigning world champions will be determined to defend their crown in what could be Lionel Messi’s final World Cup, although England will be aiming to deny them and make its first final since winning it in 1966.Wednesday’s semi-final sees one of the fiercest rivalries in international football renewed, owing to the Falklands war between the two countries in 1982, as well as Diego Maradona’s infamous ‘hand of God’ goal in the 1986 World Cup.Argentina’s fans have stoked the fires ahead of the game, after being seen chanting: “He who doesn’t jump is an Englishman.”Mac Allister’s mother, Silvina Riela, has revealed she doesn’t join in with the song.
She moved to the UK with her son in 2020 after he joined Brighton, and having welcomed a granddaughter into the world last year, she admits she doesn’t feel the same hard feelings towards England as she used to.“What happened to me is that I had a pretty negative image of England in terms of living there, because of the cold and the lack of sun,” she told Argentine media.Alexis Mac Allister with his mother after winning the World Cup with Argentina in 2022(Image: Getty Images)“I used to say, in my ignorance, that we should never have to go to England. I can’t say the same.
In that sense, I don’t go along with it.”Mac Allister himself has also sought to play down the rivalry between the two countries. With no Liverpool players in the England squad, the midfielder will not be coming up against any of his current or former teammates, with Jarell Quansah suspended for the semi-final.“I have a lot of respect for them [English people] because I’ve been there for six years now and they’ve always treated me incredibly well.“From a footballing perspective, I have no doubt they want to beat us at all costs, and it’s going to be a very tough match, so now we have to prepare as best we can.“And, with respect, it’s going to be a great battle on the pitch.”