In August 2006, West Ham's double-swoop for Carlos Tevez and Javier Mascherano meant any mention of Argentina and east London would be tied to the duo, but Albiceleste manager Lionel Scaloni can now give them a run for their money.
West Ham 's representation in World Cup finals is the kind of thing fans of the club are well versed in. The trio of Hammers in England's victorious 1966 team might be the headline, but there's also former West Ham man Mascherano in the 2014 final, while goalkeeper Alphonse Areola has traded his place in David Moyes' Europa Conference League line-ups for a spot on the France bench in Qatar on Sunday.
All four of the 2022 semi-finalists had a West Ham link, including Areola for France, summer signing Nayef Aguerd for Morocco and Nikola Vlasic - currently out on loan at Torino - in Croatia's squad. Scaloni is the Argentina link, having spent half a season with West Ham under Alan Pardew, and supporters have mixed memories of the former right-back.
