Luggage is inevitable.
So Clarín, Argentina’s largest newspaper, went straight to that topic.
In the first two lines of his match preview on Sunday, reference was made to “history, politics, the Falklands War and England’s persistent imperialist views”., external
The story of a teenager Federico Mendez who solved the problem of England second-row Paul Ackford with a blind hit 35 years ago was retold.
On Thursday, Franco Molina told another part of the Anglo-Argentine story.
“It was a goal, the referee gave it, it was a goal!” said the Argentine second line, remembering Diego Maradona’s controversial goal in the ‘Hand of God’ in the quarterfinals of the 1986 World Cup.
But it was all with a smile.
If all that history is brewing like kerosene of pep talk, Molina, who spent last season playing for Exeter, hid it well.
For him there was a lot to get excited about in the next 80 minutes, without bringing up the past.
“It’s a great game, simply because of the context of the international game,” he said.
“It’s really special to play at Twickenham.
“It’s going to be a very physical game and all the English teams are organized in what they do, all the shots from the field, the whole game with the ball in hand.
“We will have to be really connected and precise during the 80 minutes to beat them.”
