"Diego was walking in line with us," said Brown, remembering how Maradona rallied the team by bringing up the fallen soldiers from the conflict.
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"and he started raving. He says 'Let's go, yeah?
These motherfuckers killed our neighbours, they killed our relatives.' I understood, obviously … After the anthems, nobody said anything.
We hadn't said anything about that before the game but we'd all been thinking about it. We just went out there and ran."
The cultural influence of Maradona remains a powerful motivator for the squad, with fans chanting and players singing "La Cuarta Estrella" in their locker room.
Despite the emotional undertones, Argentina captain Lionel Messi maintained a highly professional and calm stance when questioned about the match.
"It's a special match because it'll be my first time facing England," said Messi, discussing the rare opportunity to play the traditional powerhouse.
"I've played against almost every major national team, but never them.
England are one of football's great powerhouses, so it's always exciting to take on a team of that caliber, especially in a World Cup semi-final."
The winner of the Atlanta semifinal will advance to the final of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
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England seeks its first final appearance since 1966, while reigning champions Argentina aim to defend their global crown.
