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Fury as Scottish Labour and SNP MPs join forces to celebrate England crashing out of the World Cup to Argentina
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37'
Yellow card Elliot ANDERSON (England) is booked by
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42'
Yellow card Lisandro MARTINEZ (Argentina) is booked by
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Yellow card Cristian ROMERO (Argentina) is booked by
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Goal Anthony GORDON (England) scores!!
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Goal Enzo FERNANDEZ (Argentina) scores!!
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90'+2'
Goal Lautaro MARTINEZ (Argentina) scores!!
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Yellow card Rodrigo DE PAUL (Argentina) is booked
England squad
- Selected
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1 Jordan PICKFORD Goalkeeper
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4 Declan RICE Midfielder
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5 John STONES Defender
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6 Marc GUEHI Defender
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8 Elliot ANDERSON Midfielder
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9 Harry KANE C Forward
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10 Jude BELLINGHAM Midfielder
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17 Morgan ROGERS Midfielder
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18 Anthony GORDON Forward
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24 Reece JAMES Defender
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25 Djed SPENCE Defender
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2 Ezri KONSA Defender
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3 Nico OREILLY Defender
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7 Bukayo SAKA Forward
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11 Marcus RASHFORD Forward
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12 Trevoh CHALOBAH Defender
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13 Dean Henderson Goalkeeper
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14 Jordan HENDERSON Midfielder
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15 Dan BURN Defender
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16 Kobbie MAINOO Midfielder
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19 Ollie WATKINS Forward
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20 Noni MADUEKE Forward
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21 Eberechi EZE Midfielder
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22 Ivan TONEY Forward
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23 James TRAFFORD Goalkeeper
- Full squad
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26 Jarell QUANSAH Defender
Argentina squad
- Selected
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3 Nicolas TAGLIAFICO Defender
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5 Leandro PAREDES Midfielder
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6 Lisandro MARTINEZ Defender
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9 Julian ALVAREZ Forward
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10 Lionel MESSI C Forward
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13 Cristian ROMERO Defender
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17 Giuliano SIMEONE Forward
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20 Alexis MAC ALLISTER Midfielder
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23 Emiliano MARTINEZ Goalkeeper
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24 Enzo FERNANDEZ Midfielder
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26 Nahuel MOLINA Defender
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1 Juan MUSSO Goalkeeper
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2 Marcos SENESI Defender
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4 Gonzalo MONTIEL Defender
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7 Rodrigo DE PAUL Midfielder
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8 Valentin BARCO Midfielder
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11 Giovani Lo Celso Midfielder
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12 Geronimo RULLI Goalkeeper
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14 Exequiel PALACIOS Midfielder
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15 Nico GONZALEZ Midfielder
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16 Thiago ALMADA Forward
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18 Nico PAZ Forward
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19 Nicolas OTAMENDI Defender
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21 Jose Manuel LOPEZ Forward
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22 Lautaro MARTINEZ Forward
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25 Facundo MEDINA Defender
Scottish Labour and SNP MPs have provoked anger after appearing to celebrate England's World Cup exit, joining together online to mark the Three Lions' semi-final defeat to Argentina. The cross-party display of glee at a rival home nation's misfortune has drawn criticism from England fans and other politicians, who branded the behaviour unbecoming of elected representatives during a tense national moment for football.
The reaction comes after England were beaten by Argentina in the World Cup semi-final, a match that also saw Argentine players unveil a banner laying claim to the Falkland Islands and sparked scenes of disorder, including a TikTok prankster in an Argentina shirt needing police protection from angry fans in London's Piccadilly Circus. Manager Thomas Tuchel has faced heavy criticism from pundits including Wayne Rooney and Ian Ladyman over his substitutions, while the wider fallout from the defeat has extended into public and political reactions across the UK, with the Scottish MPs' celebrations becoming a flashpoint for further controversy.
In short
- Scottish Labour and SNP MPs criticised for celebrating England's World Cup exit
- England lost World Cup semi-final to Argentina amid ugly scenes
- Row adds to fallout over Tuchel's tactics and fan disorder in London
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Scotland and England have a longstanding competitive tradition in football, and Scottish national identity is legitimately expressed through such rivalry. Scottish MPs, as citizens, have the right to support their own nation's interests and participate in sporting banter, which is a normal and accepted part of how the home nations relate to one another. Celebrating England's exit is a harmless expression of national sentiment consistent with historical precedent.
The case against
MPs are public figures entrusted with responsibility to model dignified conduct and foster unity within the UK. Actively celebrating another home nation's defeat, rather than simply supporting Scotland, crosses from sporting rivalry into mockery of fellow citizens at a moment of national disappointment. Such behaviour risks deepening divisions and demonstrates a failure of leadership, when the expected standard is to show grace and empathy across the UK rather than weaponise sport for partisan advantage.
Explained simply
The World Cup is football's most prestigious international tournament, held every four years with nations competing to be crowned champions. England reached the semi-final stage before losing to Argentina, a match that carried significant weight for English fans who had hoped their team might finally secure a trophy that has eluded them since 1966.
Scotland, as a separate nation within the United Kingdom, competes independently in international football and has historically had a fierce sporting rivalry with England. When Scottish politicians celebrate England's exit from a major tournament, it reflects broader political tensions between Scotland and England, with Scotland's independence movement providing a backdrop to such expressions of national allegiance distinct from English interests.
The Argentina match itself proved controversial beyond the result, as the Argentine team unveiled a banner laying claim to the Falkland Islands, a territory disputed between Britain and Argentina for decades. This display, combined with England's defeat, sparked wider reactions across British politics and society.